Chapter 2 RR : Creating a Professional Learning COmmunity

Hello Everyone- Here are my reflections for the Chapter 2 Reading: Creating a Professional Learning Community.

1.) A Learning Community's focus is to optimize the educational experience for students and teachers in order for a specific project or problem to reach its highest potential;  thereby producing the best outcome. Through collaboration,  new ideas are exchanged and new solutions are obtained. A learning community values input from others in a group in an effort to achieve the same goals. People in a learning community make it a mandatory part of their curriculum to talk about different ideas with each other.  People engaged in a learning community consider themselves life long learners and are constantly hungry to progress and gain knowledge.

2.)There are several benefits of having a learning community. The opportunity to share knowledge and collaborate with people who experience the same type of situations that you do, but maybe they have a strategy that works.  One aspect of having a learning community that I particularity enjoy is how much emphasis is put on group collaboration rather than taking individual credit for every project that is completed. By focusing on making the outcome of something a group effort, it diminishes the element of competition, which can deter away from the main focus which is to ensure the students have an optimal learning experience. People seem so intent to want  individual credit rather than attributing success to a group that they may miss out on something spectacular. Also, a learning community is progressive and eager to gain knowledge. Therefore staying up to date 'technologically' during this digital age further the possibility of for collaboration and student success. 

3.) Teachers are can be greatly affected by Professional Learning Communities. When teachers discuss possibilities of  how to achieve the best outcome, it can seem personal when someone disagrees with what another may say. However, this is constructive criticism that needs to be considered and appreciated because it may help improve something about a teaching technique. It gives teachers the chance to observe other teachers and be honest, constructive (even critical, at times) but most importantly respectful. Also, the feedback from teachers will ensure students a more effective and efficient way to learn such as when a teacher who has a method for organization- which cuts down on time for distraction- gets through her lessons compared to another teacher. The collaboritve, group effort 

4.)Students are affected by project learning communities because it provides a sense of belonging to a community. PLC's are safe places to exchange ideas and it also makes everyone's input valuable and pertinent. Students may feel like their experiences are important in solving an issue, and their skills are being built such as : communication, problem solving, consistency and motivation- which align with the qualifications of living in a digital world. 

5.) The componants I believed to be highly important, and to ensure a successful learning community are for teachers to take the I out of teacher and insert an us.   Communities are based on similar visions for the students and a clear mission on how to create them. It's is all about collaboration and understanding eachother's experiences in order to determine the best practice in accomplishing their vision. Striving to continuously improve and setting goals give students and teachers motivation to be their best, together. 

6. ) Writing and Producing a play requires so much collaboration from various aspects of theater ( production, direction, acting, writing, filming, building etc...) and a clear vision for how we are going to optimize the result. It is a dynamic business that requires us to do lots of research and share what we have learned.  Since learning communities valaue technology and using technology to further the learning experience, we believe that filming the play would have more of a connection with students than just acting one out on stage.