Learning CommunitiesLearning Communities

By: Jessica McIntyreBy: Jessica McIntyreLTMS 510 02 - SpringLTMS 510 02 - Spring

A Learning What?A Learning What?

A learning community is …A learning community is …

a group of people,

who share common values and beliefs,

and are actively engaged in learning together and from each other.

Types of Learning CommunitiesTypes of Learning Communities

Higher EducationHigher Education

ResidentialResidential

ProfessionalProfessional OnlineOnline

When did it all begin?When did it all begin?

"collective commitments to student learning in collaborative settings,"

"where it is assumed improvement of teaching is a collective rather than individual enterprise, and that analysis, evaluation, and experimentation in concert with colleagues are conditions under which teachers improve." Susan Rosenholtz, 1989

How did core ideas get started?How did core ideas get started?

Judith Warren Little Milbrey McLaughlin

The most effective departments within schools operated as strong professional communities characterized by:

•Shared norms and beliefs

•Collegial relations

•Collaborative cultures

•Reflective practice

•Ongoing technical inquiry regarding effective practice

•Professional growth

•Mutual support and mutual obligation

Current Core IdeasCurrent Core Ideas• Collectively pursue shared mission, Collectively pursue shared mission,

vision, values and goals vision, values and goals • Work interdependently in Work interdependently in

collaborative teams focused on collaborative teams focused on learning learning

• Engage in ongoing collective Engage in ongoing collective inquiry into best practice and the inquiry into best practice and the "current reality" of student "current reality" of student achievement and the prevailing achievement and the prevailing practices of the school practices of the school

• Demonstrate an action orientation Demonstrate an action orientation and experimentation and experimentation

• Participate in systematic processes Participate in systematic processes to promote continuous to promote continuous improvement improvement

• Maintain an unrelenting focus on Maintain an unrelenting focus on results results

Are there any advantages for Are there any advantages for teachers?teachers?

•Expand their repertoire of teaching approaches Acquire new scholarly interests

Strengthen teaching and learning via testing our new curricular approaches and strategies

Build mentoring relationships with each other Feel Reduced isolation Participate in Collaborative and cooperative learning

•Experience Problem-based learning – all working together to achieve the solution/goal

•Feel Team Empowerment

•Continually revise their course content

•Be Better informed and committed teachers

Leading Tools Leading Tools OptionsOptions

• http://www.allthingsplc.info/http://www.allthingsplc.info/

Open Source Options

http://teachershare.scholastic.com/?lnkid=TNav:TR:TeacherShare&ESP=TR/ib//acq/teacher_share_tnav_TR///nav/txtl////

• Collaborative – Wikis (Mediawiki)Collaborative – Wikis (Mediawiki)• Social Networking – Del.icio.us, Flickr, Blogs, Social Networking – Del.icio.us, Flickr, Blogs,

MySpace, Facebook, MySpace, Facebook, eTwinning (Europe) - eTwinning (Europe) - http://desktop.etwinning.net/index.cfm?lang=en&logout=1http://desktop.etwinning.net/index.cfm?lang=en&logout=1

• Content Management – Moodle, Lectureshare, Content Management – Moodle, Lectureshare, Drupal (Drupal (http://drupal.org/user/724914http://drupal.org/user/724914 ) ), , Joomla ( Joomla (http://demo.joomla.org/1.5/http://demo.joomla.org/1.5/ ) )

• Synchronous – SkypeSynchronous – Skype• Asynchronous – Message BoardsAsynchronous – Message Boards

Online Learning Community Online Learning Community OptionsOptions

Questions??Questions??