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Professional Learning Communities

What Is It?
Professional learning communities are teams of educators systematically working together to improve teaching practice and student learning. Research suggests that such learning communities are characterized by:

• supportive and shared leadership
• shared values and vision
• collective responsibility for pupils learning
• the promotion of personal reflection and team collaboration
• supportive physical and personal conditions

Explore It
To learn more about professional learning communities, explore the following Web sites:

• Building Professional Learning Communities
• Professional Learning Communities
• Professional Learning Communities at Work
• Professional Learning Communities: What Are They and Why Are They Important?
• Schools as Learning Communities
• What is a Professional Learning Community?

Use It!
The sites below will help you create a professional learning community at your school:

• Creating a Professional Learning Community: Cottonwood Creek School
• Learning Communities: A New Definition of Professional Development
• Professional Learning Communities
• Transform Your Group into a Team

Learn More About It
To extend your understanding of professional learning communities, visit the following Web sites:

• Creating and Sustaining Professional Learning Communities (An Online Course)
• Improving Relationships within the Schoolhouse
• Peter Senge and the Learning Organization
• Professional Learning Communities
• Professional Learning Communities
• Professional Learning Communities: Communities of Continuous Inquiry and Improvement
• Professional Learning Communities Hold Promise for Schools
• Professional Learning Communities Writ Large

Article by Linda Starr
Education World®
Copyright © 2006 Education World

03/24/2006