Miki-The+Art+of+Learning+Together++Strengthening+and+Enriching+PLCs

March 28 The Art of Learning Together: Strengthening and Enriching your Learning Communities Geoffrey Caine and JoAnn Lawerence Geoffrey@Cainelearning.com In this session, Caine and Lawerence took us through the Process Learning Circle to demonstrate the layers and process. The conversations, even though it was the first time everyone met, were deep and demonstrated the potential for deep and powerful personal learning required for the second order change that Rosemarye Taylor shared and the deep implementation that Doug Reeves is promoting. New ASCD book PLCs: as communities of practice are the most effective PD strategy to transform teaching and learning. . . doing something different (second order change) Not an easy thing. . . PLCs capitalize on what every individual knows and brings to the conversation Global Theme: LAYERS. . . Everything comes in layers 3 Essential Layers of a PLC: -Atmosphere/relationship grounded in a field of listening -Rigorous PD -Powerful personal Learning Caine and Lawerence promote Process Learning Circles (a structure for developing and maintaining PLC) Ordered sharing-Field of Listening Reflective study-Professional Development Commitment to action and action research-Professional Development Regrouping and professional learning-Personal Development Doing things differently video: Volkswagen (may be on U tube) First Layer: The Way We Are Positive affect: promote a positive sense of well-being Improves higher order functioning such as: working memory, creative problem-solving, social interactions-including sociability and helpfulness, decision-making, flexibility in thinking. Use the power of good community is an antidote to stress: Brain/Mind Principle 2: The Brain/mind is social. A visible, but hidden obstacle to achieving the first layer of a PLC is "Sabatoge by stress" Brain/mind principle 11: Complex learning is enhanced by challenge and inhibited by a threat associated with helplessness and/or fatigue. People who are highly stressed lose access to higher level thinking. In the first layer, PLCs need to establish an Essential Platform: A field of listening (because people need to be heard) 3 layers of listening Surface Active Deep Process Learning Circles is a structure & processes that supports and develops DEEP listening. See Powerpoint below for more info on the structure of the Process Learning Circles Reflection: PLCs seem to be an effective way to promote and support second order change. I am thinking that Ka Pi'ina can tap into some of the research on PLCs to make some recommendations regarding PD, new staff induction and promote and support second order change. On this last day of the conference, I began to see how the many and disparate ideas on teacher effectiveness, performance evaluation, leadership, etc. cross, connect and reinforce the others. This Presentation Was The best of the conference thus far. . . What made it the best? Thoughts:  -Few key points   I-nteractive! Able to process through thinking within the context of session. -Modeled learning processes  -Applicable   -Immediate take aways   -and. . . Lots more to read and think about. It reminded me of a good coaching conversation:  -Take away something that I can use apply tomorrow. . . From within. . . Nt told ACTION steps  -Take away. . . Possibilities. . . More to think about, read, reflect and learn! Powerpoint presentation had  -Few points- graphic, video and metaphorical   -Little text. . .  (TEchnology connection: Teacher in South America who is developing technology use to enhance student learning and achievement . . . Jessievaz12 on Twitter)