, to see if you have full access to this publication.
Book Titles No access
Reculturing Schools As Professional Learning Communities
Authors:
|
Publisher:
2003
Summary
This important work documents and examines evidence of efforts taking place in rural, urban, and suburban Pre-K-12 schools that are actively engaged in creating professional learning communities (PLCs). Literature is reviewed that defines and identifies the distinguishing dimensions of PLCs. A five-year, federally funded research study is explained including the methodology and demographics of the six study schools and a synthesis of the 64 interviews.
A PLC organizer (PLCO) is introduced, which realigns with Shirley Hord's original 1997 research. The organizer provides the framework to explain the five PLC dimensions and related critical attributes. The PLCO also merges Fullan's model, Phases of Change (1985), which includes initiation, implementation, and institutionalization.
The authors provide extensive evidence of the progressive development of a PLC from initiation to implementation using exemplars and non-exemplars from interviews that either hinder or facilitate creating and sustaining PLCs. A new assessment tool, the Professional Learning Community Assessment (PLCA), is also presented and can be used for diagnosis and evaluation of schools as they work toward school reform efforts. Readers are also presented with information that connects professional learning community work to a new approach to school improvement. Five case studies are included that can be used in schools and university classrooms for the purpose of engaging educators in reflection, open dialogue, problem finding, and problem solving. This first-hand documented information provides readers with unique issues as they wrestle with the challenges of transforming schools into organizations that meet diverse students needs.
Lessons learned from this problem-based learning can easily transfer to the readers' own experiences and schools. The authors conclude by highlighting significant findings, reviewing the most recent related research that addresses sustaining such efforts, and offering suggestions for school leaders to
Search publication
Bibliographic data
Copyright year
2003
ISBN-Print
978-1-57886-053-1
ISBN-Online
978-1-4616-5382-0
Publisher
Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham
Language
English
Pages
173
Product type
Book Titles
Table of contents
ChapterPages
Table of Contents No access
Foreword No access
Acknowledgments No access
Introduction No access
1: Overview of Professional Learning Communities No access
2: Responding to the Challenge No access
3: Shared and Supportive Leadership No access
4: Shared Values and Vision No access
5: Collective Learning and Application No access
6: Shared Personal Practice No access
7: Supportive Conditions No access
8: Assessing Schools as PLCs No access
9: The PLC Connection to School Improvement No access
10: Case Study Overview No access
11: Case Study #1: Role Expectations in Schools Moving to Site-Based Leadership No access
12: Case Study #2: Nurturing the Human Side: A Crucial Component for PLCs No access
13: Case Study #3: Trust as a Foundation in Building a Learning Community No access
14: Case Study #4: The Role of Principal Commitment in Creating Learning Communities No access
15: Case Study #5: Reculturing a School in Crisis No access
