Creating an Online Professional Learning Community through Blackboard Presented by Jeri Van Leer CEMA/CECA Conference October 23, 2007

What is a professional learning community? Educators committed to continuous school improvement by working collaboratively to improve student learning

Characteristics of a professional learning community  Shared mission/vision/values  Collective inquiry  Collaborative teams  Commitment to action/experimentation  Commitment to continuous improvement  Results

How do you create a professional learning community for…  19 library media specialists  16 schools  1 K-12 department supervisor  Board of Education office

What is Blackboard?  Online learning platform

Getting started Spring 2005  Develop initial content  Access educational tools which support teaching and learning  Create framework for content  Invite staff to recommend content

Initial content  Mission and goals  Staff information  Program management

Program management—initial Cataloging and processing Collection management Copyright & fair use Curriculum and instruction Data collection On-line resources Professional development Supervision & evaluation Supporting educational initiatives Webliography

Program management--additions Advocacy Budget & acquisitions Collaboration Directions & maps Diversity Facilities Intellectual Freedom Libraries—Research & Statistics Literature Procedures & forms Public relations Reference School-Public Library Cooperation

How do we use Blackboard?  Access resources from school and home  Participate in threaded discussions  Library media specialists share resources  Library media specialists post content* * initiative

Let’s explore Blackboard

Works Consulted Dufour, Richard, et al. Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington: Solution Tree, Dufour, Richard, Robert Eaker and Rebecca DuFour. On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities. Bloomington: Solution Tree, Eaker, Robert, Richard DuFour, and Rebecca DuFour. Getting Started: Reculturing Schools to Become Professional Learning Communities. Bloomington: National Educational Service, Roberts, Sylvia M., and Eunice Z. Pruitt. Schools as Professional Learning Communities. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press, 2003.

Questions?

Thank you! Jeri Van Leer Department Supervisor Library Media Services West Hartford Public Schools