Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
Professional learning communities are where the history content gained in project activities is adapted to classroom use. PLCs will be structured along the guidelines of the National Staff Development Council (NSDC).
PLCs focus on learning rather than teaching and are characterized by an environment fostering mutual cooperation, support, professional growth and a synergy of efforts.
DuFour and Eaker, experts in the field of school improvement insist that PLCs are “the most promising strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement.” As teachers work and learn together they will ensure success for their students more so than they can in isolation.
Professional Learning Communities will be a way for participants to take what they have learned in the workshops, discuss it with other colleagues in the program, and identify ways to implement it in their classrooms.
Each PLC will have a leader to organize group activities. Their responsibilities are:
- Organize monthly meetings for a group of 3 to 5 teachers. Monthly meetings will take place every month September through June.
- Identify discussion topics for your meetings based on the needs of teachers in your group.
- Send two email reminders for each meeting – one week ahead and two days prior.
- Take notes at your meetings including the names of those who attended.
- Make sure the date and time for the next meeting is set.
- Post the notes from your monthly meeting in the appropriate section of the Blackboard site.
- Dates, times, locations, and topics will be determined by your group.