Enhancing preschool-kindergarten educator implementation of interactive reading instruction through vertical teaming: Exploring collaborative enquiry

2020 ◽  
pp. 146879842097852
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Kotas ◽  
Julia Bridi ◽  
Sarah M Garrity
Keyword(s):  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning Community ◽  
Reading Instruction ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Literacy Learning ◽  
The United States ◽  
Reading Practice ◽  
Interactive Reading ◽  
Transitional Kindergarten ◽  
Using Data

Using data from a 2-year empirical project in an urban school within the United States, this article describes how educators of preschool, transitional-kindergarten and kindergarten (PreK-TK-K) altered perceptions and practices as a result of participating in a purposefully crafted professional learning community using collaborative enquiry. Emergent thematic findings highlight shifts in educator understanding and application of interactive reading practice and alignment across classrooms of young learners. This vertical professional learning community provided space and time where educators constructed meaning through collaborative enquiry, video observations and reflection, which informed educator thinking and enriched student interaction for literacy learning.

Sharing a powerful IDEA: learning organizations collaborating to innovate and design engaging applications in STEM education

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-12
Author(s):  
William L. Sterrett ◽  
Rauf I. Azam ◽  
Mahnaz Moallem ◽  
Jess Boersma ◽  
Ahsan Bashir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle Schools ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning Community ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Underrepresented Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Teachers And Students

Purpose This study sought to better understand how to support and plan for a collaborative effort that brought educators together from three universities in the United States and Pakistan. This project sough to foster collaborative relationships between the two countries by expanding knowledge, collaboration, and capacity in middle schools in the Punjab region of Pakistan with a particular focus on underrepresented students and middle grades STEM instruction. Design/methodology/approach This study was informed through the use of formative survey data gathered from the workshop participants throughout the course of the week. The researchers conducted pre and post surveys of 22 participants using Likert scale items. Findings This project provided insights regarding curriculum alignment, engaging communication, teacher-centered formative data. These findings offered insights on how to grow as reflective practitioners and researchers, and how to form a robust multi-national professional learning community. Research limitations/implications The survey data were gathered from participants who willingly sought professional development in one region of Pakistan. The sample was small (four participating middle schools and one local university) and thus the findings cannot be necessarily generalized to a greater population. Practical implications This project provides practical insights of how teams can work together in regard to building a professional learning community. Teams can plan with intentionality, foster various modes of discussion, and empower both teachers and students to inquire, solve problems, and share their insights. Social implications The STEM topics in this study are important across continents. Navigating time constraints and distance is feasible through communication, attention to objectives and clarity in goals, and a desire to learn outside of one’s usual comfort zones. Originality/value This project was unique in the time and space in which it was designed and implemented, yet it offers value in fostering ongoing collaboration through various modalities and in being intentional in the planning process.

scholarly journals Implementation of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) (Differences Between Saudi Arabia and the USA)

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-122
Author(s):  
Jo Nell Wood ◽  
Abdulmajeed K. Alshammari
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
School Improvement ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
The United States ◽  
Years Of Experience ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Implementation Level ◽  
Teachers Professional Development

Professional Learning Community (PLC) for teachers is one of the trending ways on improving students’ achievement. This article aims at investigating the implementation level of Professional Learning Community (PLC) in the schools of the United States of America and Saudi Arabia, as perceived by teachers. Also, the article evaluates whether there are significant differences on the implementation level based on country, gender, and years of experience. Participants of the study were public school teachers from both countries. To attain the purpose of the study, the descriptive approach was used. Using Means and Standard Deviation (SD), the findings reveal that the level of implementation of PLC in Saudi Arabia was higher compared to the USA. However, by using the T-test and ANOVA, it was revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in the implementation level based on country, gender, and years of experience. Recommendations and suggestions were provided for implementation improvement and future studies. Keywords: Professional Learning Community (PLC), teachers’ professional development, school improvement

Three Innovations: Promises and Perils

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 73-90
Author(s):  
Sam Oh Neill
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning Community ◽  
School Board ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Social Emotional Learning ◽  
School Reforms ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Purpose Of Education ◽  
Differentiation Of Instruction

In 2003, I began a longitudinal study into the purpose of education. The process of my investigation included getting involved in new innovations as they were introduced to our school board. As I looked deeper into the purpose of schooling I discovered some startling things about how and why systems of education, through the apparatus of schooling, influence who and what, professionally, people become. I also discovered patterns related to the act of becoming that exist in school reforms. This study analyzes three reforms introduced between 2003 and 2017: Professional Learning Community, Differentiation of Instruction, and Social-Emotional Learning. 

scholarly journals The development of professional learning community in primary schools

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 2789-2796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sompong Samoot ◽  
Erawan Prawit ◽  
Dharm tad sa na non Sudharm
Keyword(s):  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Primary Schools

scholarly journals CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY: INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 493
Author(s):  
Justinas Monkevicius ◽  
Renaldas Čiužas
Keyword(s):  
Professional Learning Communities ◽  
Learning Communities ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Organisational Culture ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Teacher Professional Learning ◽  
Organisational Structure ◽  
Teacher Professional

The article presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of institutional factors of creation and development of successful teacher professional learning communities. On the basis of the conducted theoretical analysis, institutional factors were systemised and divided into four groups:factors related to organisational culture, to processes, to organisational structure, and factors related to financial and material resources.The empirical research reveals the relevance of theoretically distinguished factors to the practical processes of creation and development of successful teacher professional learning communities. It also singles out new factors that have not been investigated by other scholars and highlights the encountered barriers.

scholarly journals Blog-based professional development of English teachers in Mumbai: The potential of innovative practice under scrutiny

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atiya Khan
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Teacher Collaboration ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Learning Networks ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Interactive Workshop

The professional development of teachers in India is still, by and large, based on formal and outdated professional learning traditions, often characterised by crash courses and one-off workshops. In education, blogs have proven to be an effective means of establishing and maintaining collaborative learning networks and helping members reflect on their professional practices. Information and communications technology (ICT) enabled practices of teacher professional development is still in its infancy in India. Moreover, there is limited research in India to secure foundational understanding of how and in what ways teachers of English in India use blogs for their professional development. This study explores the use of teacher reflective practice, teacher networking, and teacher collaboration, beyond formal ICT training, through blog-based professional development of English teachers in the Mumbai region of India. Using data collected from 32 teachers from three private schools in Mumbai, through ICT interactive workshop observations, questionnaires, interviews, and blog comments, this action case study explains whether and why blogging, as a learning community, has the potential to add significant value to existing professional development of English teachers in Mumbai.

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