Our reading in Martin-Kriep was really about how professional learning communities work and are sustained. Perhaps not just sustained, but how they can evolve and flourish. When starting a collaborative learning endeavor, such as a PLC, ideas always seem to be flowing during the inception, but finding structure, form, and a set of guiding principles to keep the group moving forward in a positive and goal-oriented framework always seems to be the downfall of such groups. “Success of a professional learning community is its ability to define its purpose, its criteria for membership, and the values and norms it upholds”. (Martin-Kriep, 2008)
I think that one way that we could really breathe life into the PLC's is to find a way for teachers to dialogue and create collaborative learning environments outside the four walls of the actual PLC. In alignment with our coursework, I feel that one way to keep teachers engaged in the PLC is have them thinking about their work in the PLC outside the PLC. Currently at Homewood Flossmoor our PLC's meet for 55 minutes every two, or sometimes 3 weeks. We meet Friday mornings at 7:30 and I have noticed that:
1.) Many members of various PLC’s are late to these meetings. Much of the faculty regards the PLC as wasted time, and because they are not seeing students, they feel as though they can walk in a little late. As far as I am aware, the administration is aware of this trend, but nothing has been said to the staff about this.
2.)Everyone feels sluggish at 7:30 on a Friday and it usually takes 10 minutes just to get focused.
3.) Often, PLC’a although driven by a SMARTGoal lack focus, and tangent easily away from the task or topic at hand.
This has left me wondering about how valuable the PLC actually is in a physical setting. I feel that one thing that would increase productivity and prolong a sense of growth and professional achievement within a PLC is to take some of the work of the PLC online. I found a website called Edweb.net which just might be a solution.
EdWeb.net is a social networking site that allows any stakeholders in education to connect with colleges, share information and best practices, spread innovative ideas, and provide professional development. “... edWeb provides an easy and intuitive Web 2.0 platform that includes blogs, discussions, file-sharing, shared calendars, wikis, live chat, messaging, polling, and shared links. Communities (groups) can be created and linked for closer collaboration.” (edweb)
According to the homepage of edWeb.net, the website allows educators to do the following:
1.) Connect with Colleagues in Education
2.) Create Professional Learning Communities
3.) Collaborate on Goals and Initiatives
4.) Provide Support for New Teachers
5.) Practice 21st Century Skills
1.) Connect with Colleagues in Education
2.) Create Professional Learning Communities
3.) Collaborate on Goals and Initiatives
4.) Provide Support for New Teachers
5.) Practice 21st Century Skills
I think that the free service would be amazing for PLC’s. The stakeholders in each PLC could join an online group, chat about things as they come up in the real world, conduct research, online meetings, and conference with other colleagues in and out of their own district, or city or state who may be dealing with similar issues. I think if this were an added component to my current PLC, we would have a greater sense of purpose, a little more freedom, more research opputunities, and a clean convenient way to move our PLC outside of 55 minutes every few weeks. This would therefore create a sense of “long term” thinking and "in the moment" communication. If something happens in class that might relate to the work in the PLC, a teacher can quickly chronicle it, and share it without having to wait to have a physical discussion.
I also think that this may be a great beginner site to technology reluctant educators. If they personally use this site for PLC work, they may start to see the benefits of social networking in the classroom, and other available web 2.0 tools to enhance their teaching and eventually be successful at both personal and PLC goals. I hate to even mention this but if you keep your groups public, administationcan keep tabs on the work being done...Although a little like "big brother", it would hold teachers to a higher standard, and I think more work would be accomplished.
I also found a youtube video published by the site which is a brief overview and tutorial of the edweb.net for your reference.
Works Cited
edpublishing. (2010, March 10). YouTube - edWeb.net Tour . YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . Retrieved January 21, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiBwqr5PD34 Martin, Kniep, Giselle O. 2008. Communities that Learn, Lead, and Last. San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass.
Schmucki, L. (n.d.). edWeb.net - Networking, resource sharing, collaboration, and professional development for the education community. edWeb.net - Networking, resource sharing, collaboration, and professional development for the education community. Retrieved January 20, 2011, from http://edweb.net
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