Empowering a Learning CommunityTransforming Our Adult Education World

NMUSD Adult School2007-08 Professional Growth Plan Goals:

Empower a professional learning community to improve ALL learning (staff and students alike)

Deepen our understanding of how to use technology to enhance instruction and improve learning for all.

Martha RankinNovember, 2007

Why are We a PLC?Look at our May, 2007

NMUSD Professional Development Survey

results

to understand

how and why we choose to be a

2007 NMUSD Staff Development Survey Question

Of the following professional development best practices, which one would you like emphasized most at your site?

2007 NMUSD Staff Development Survey Results

Professional Development Best Practices ResponsePercent

ResponseTotal

1.Using student data to plan professional development

1.Use of time to improve instructional practices

1.Leadership

1.Content and pedagogy

1.Inquiry and reflection

1.Collaboration

1.Accountability

1.Adult learning

1.Broad-based support for teacher learning

1.Planning

Professional Development Best Practices ResponsePercent

ResponseTotal

1.Using student data to plan professional development 3.1% 1

1.Use of time to improve instructional practices 28.1% 9

1.Leadership 3.1% 1

1.Content and pedagogy 0% 0

1.Inquiry and reflection 0% 0

1.Collaboration 28.1% 9

1.Accountability 0% 0

1.Adult learning 37.5% 12

1.Broad-based support for teacher learning 0% 0

1.Planning 0% 0

2007 NMUSD Staff Development Survey Results

What one suggestion do you have that will help improve teacher learning?

2007 NMUSD Staff Development Survey Question

More staff development and technology training

More in-services on technology in the classroom

Share lessons & Websites on specific skill strategies

More training in specific areas

Hands-on instruction

Short strategic workshops or online courses

2007 NMUSD Staff Development Survey Results

Attend to the individual needs of our students as well as the entire group

I need new strategies to teach the content standards.

The classroom visits sparked a lot of discussion about what everyone was doing in their classes.

Collaboration, observation of other teachers’ strategies, just dialogue

2007 NMUSD Staff Development Survey Results

We do this, but others would benefit by time together to bounce ideas and reflect among peers: e.g., at lunch, especially after class.

More collaboration time between all adult education teachers to exchange ideas, teaching strategies, assessment models, and classroom management

Provide more opportunities to collaborate

Peer coaching

Share experiences

2007 NMUSD Staff Development Survey Results

Better communication between staff as a whole group Meetings with AM & PM staff together

More staff development by levels

More time to meet with other faculty

more staff meetings where we could address a topic collectively I feel this can improve our teaching.

Create professional learning communities

2007 NMUSD Staff Development Survey Results

2007-2008 Professional Growth PlanNMUSD Adult School

Based on our survey results, our plan has two foci:

1. Empower a professional learning community to improve ALL learning (staff & student learning alike).

2. Deepen our understanding of how to use technology to enhance instruction and improve learning for all.

Professional Growth Plan Components electronic learning community

Adult Education Matters Weblog peer coaching small group trainings (differentiated and needs-based)

PLC program teams PLC site teams PLC level teams PLC shared-goal teams

Words of Vision

Education is not the filling of a pail, but a lighting of a fire.

William Butler Yeats

Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.

Paulo Freire

Words of Vision

Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.

Paulo Freire

Words of Vision

Education becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.

Paulo Freire

Words of Vision

Reframing a Professional Learning Community

5 Simple Steps for Transforming Our World

Newport-Mesa Adult School

2007-2008 Professional Growth Plan

Goals of a Learning Community

Ensuring all students learn

Creating a culture of collaboration

Focusing on results

Taken from www.allthingsplc.com

Attributes of a PLC

Supportive and Shared Leadership (Prestine, 1993)

Collective Creativity (Sergiovanni, 1994)

Shared Values and Vision (Isaacson& Bambur, 1992)

Supportive Conditions (Boyd, 1992; Louis & Kruse, 1995)

Shared Personal Practice (Louse & Kruse, 1995)

Outcomes for Staff

reduction of isolation of teachers

increased commitment and vigor

Shared responsibility

Creation of new knowledge about teaching and learning

Hord, 1997

Increased understanding of roles played in helping all students learn

Greater satisfaction, higher morale, lower absenteeism

More likely to undergo fundamental change

Hord, 1997

Outcomes for Staff

decreased dropout rate and "skipping"

lower absenteeism

increased learning

greater academic gains

smaller achievement gaps Hord, 1997

Outcomes for Students

Step 1: Collaboration

Create team norms

Sample team norms Begin and end the meeting on time

Assume positive intentions Engage in active listening

Be courageous

Step 1: Collaboration

Establish protocols for team work

Formalized agendas Focus on results Focus on learning

Detailed minutes

Collective commitment to action

Step 2: Common Curriculum

Define essential knowledge and skills state and district standards assessments required of students

Identify prerequisite knowledge and skills

Agree on pacing guides

Agree on and apply criteria for judging work

Teach students criteria for judging their work

Step 3: Common Assessments

Develop common assessments

Analyze common assessment data

Collectively build upon strengths & address weaknesses to ensure all students learn

Step 4: Instructional Practices

Reflect upon and refine instructional practices to meet student learning needs

Establish best practices

Collectively commit to using best practices

Commit to establishing & using Collaboration Common curriculum Common assessments

Step 5: We step forward…

“…sharing to impart, impact, improve and empower.” Martha Rankin

“…lighting a fire… William Butler Yeats

“…participating in the transformation of our world.” Paulo Freire