1. 2. The Learning Community Sociological and Psychological Nature of Groups Sociological and Psychological Nature of Groups Reciprocity Cohort Model Interaction Purpose Interdependence Individual Growth Learning Communities Systems Thinking Transformational Learning Empowerment Needs Theory Values Theory Thinking Theory Teacher Empowerment Instructional Leadership This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

2. 2. The Learning Community High-Performance Organizations Goal Setting High Expectations, Praise, and Hoopla: The Motivating Work Environment A Model for Instructional Leadership Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

3. Introduction This lecture defines the notion of community and explores the interwoven threads that distinguish a true community from a mere collection of individuals. This lecture defines the notion of community and explores the interwoven threads that distinguish a true community from a mere collection of individuals. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

4. Topics of Discussion Community Community Definition Definition Psychological and Sociological Dimensions Psychological and Sociological Dimensions Characteristics Characteristics Interaction Interaction Purpose Purpose Interdependence Interdependence Individual Development Individual Development The Learning Community The Learning Community The Professional Learning Community The Professional Learning Community Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

5. Community…. Community celebrates the dignity and worth of self and others, fosters the empowerment of both and encourages and supports the maximum development of human potential for the benefit of the common good. Community celebrates the dignity and worth of self and others, fosters the empowerment of both and encourages and supports the maximum development of human potential for the benefit of the common good. Norris, C., et. al. Norris, C., et. al. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

6. What is Community? A community is sometimes labeled: A community is sometimes labeled: A setting A setting A group A group A cohort A cohort A community is more than: A community is more than: Individuals in close proximity Individuals in close proximity Individuals with common interests Individuals with common interests Individuals grouped for a stated purpose Individuals grouped for a stated purpose Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

7. Characteristics of a True Community Interaction Interaction Purpose Purpose Interdependence Interdependence Individual Growth Individual Growth Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

8. Reciprocity The sociological dimension of the group (community) is concerned with the community as a whole and how it relates to all other communities. How is the community affected by all other communities and how does the community impact other communities? The sociological dimension of the group (community) is concerned with the community as a whole and how it relates to all other communities. How is the community affected by all other communities and how does the community impact other communities? The psychological dimension of the group (community) is concerned with the individual who is a part of the community. How is that individual affected by the community and how does he/she impact the community? The psychological dimension of the group (community) is concerned with the individual who is a part of the community. How is that individual affected by the community and how does he/she impact the community? Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

9. The Learning Community Systems Thinking Systems Thinking Personal Mastery Personal Mastery Team Learning Team Learning Mental Models Mental Models Shared Vision Shared Vision Based on Senge’s Fifth Discipline Based on Senge’s Fifth Discipline Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

10. Systems Thinking The organization is made up of many parts. What happens in any one part affects all other parts. The uniting thread that hold all parts together is shared vision or purpose. The organization is made up of many parts. What happens in any one part affects all other parts. The uniting thread that hold all parts together is shared vision or purpose. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

11. Application to Schools Each school has within it many other communities joined together by a common purpose. It is the strength of commitment to that purpose that will determine the strength of the school as a total community. Each school has within it many other communities joined together by a common purpose. It is the strength of commitment to that purpose that will determine the strength of the school as a total community. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

12. Personal Mastery Personal mastery encourages the collective commitment that gives purpose and passion to the work of the organization. It is its spiritual foundation. This dimension provides the avenue for greater self-awareness and understanding and promotes the fullest development of individual potential. Personal mastery encourages the collective commitment that gives purpose and passion to the work of the organization. It is its spiritual foundation. This dimension provides the avenue for greater self-awareness and understanding and promotes the fullest development of individual potential. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

13. Application to Schools Each individual is important to the success of the school as a total learning community. Each individual member impacts the success of the school and, in turn, is influenced by the various communities intertwined within the school. In any collaborative experience, each individual should search for greater self-understanding and deeper appreciation of others. Each individual is important to the success of the school as a total learning community. Each individual member impacts the success of the school and, in turn, is influenced by the various communities intertwined within the school. In any collaborative experience, each individual should search for greater self-understanding and deeper appreciation of others. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

14. Team Learning The true learning community fosters meaningful connections within learning settings for faculty as well as students. There is a deliberate effort to foster dialogue vs. mere discussion. Leaders eliminate a top-down perspective and allow for individual participation and empowerment. The true learning community fosters meaningful connections within learning settings for faculty as well as students. There is a deliberate effort to foster dialogue vs. mere discussion. Leaders eliminate a top-down perspective and allow for individual participation and empowerment. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

15. Application to Schools Through an exchange of ideas, the most powerful learning experiences are created. Lasting connections are built between the various communities that make up the school community. All must all join together to become an integrated community. Through an exchange of ideas, the most powerful learning experiences are created. Lasting connections are built between the various communities that make up the school community. All must all join together to become an integrated community. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

16. Challenging Mental Models In true learning communities there is a climate of continual questioning, problem finding, and exploration of possibilities. Questioning becomes the basis for transformation of current realities. As assumptions are questioned, other possibilities are examined. New designs and models are created. In true learning communities there is a climate of continual questioning, problem finding, and exploration of possibilities. Questioning becomes the basis for transformation of current realities. As assumptions are questioned, other possibilities are examined. New designs and models are created. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

17. Application to Schools Through discussion and dialogue, individuals discover realities they had not before encountered. Individuals learn to appreciate others’ viewpoints and pause to question their own assumptions. Through questioning, new possibilities are considered. Through discussion and dialogue, individuals discover realities they had not before encountered. Individuals learn to appreciate others’ viewpoints and pause to question their own assumptions. Through questioning, new possibilities are considered. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

18. What This Means… The success of the school as a learning community depends upon the strength of all the communities that contribute to it. Each community is a vital link in the success of the school; each community either supports or limits the development of all individuals who share membership in the school. What This Means Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

19. Professional Learning Communities A school is a professional learning community when all members, collectively and individually, strive to continuously insure high levels of learning. In such a community, the environment fosters mutual cooperation, emotional support, and personal and collective growth. A school is a professional learning community when all members, collectively and individually, strive to continuously insure high levels of learning. In such a community, the environment fosters mutual cooperation, emotional support, and personal and collective growth.

20. Collaborative Teams Teachers and students work together to construct knowledge and skills and then apply them in meaningful ways. The school, in turn, actively involves parents and community in ways that enhance the collective knowledge of the school community and foster life-long learning. Teachers and students work together to construct knowledge and skills and then apply them in meaningful ways. The school, in turn, actively involves parents and community in ways that enhance the collective knowledge of the school community and foster life-long learning. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

21. Action Orientation and Experimentation As individuals exchange ideas, powerful learning is created. Old assumptions are challenged, and new understandings are achieved. Both the individual and the organization are strengthened. As individuals exchange ideas, powerful learning is created. Old assumptions are challenged, and new understandings are achieved. Both the individual and the organization are strengthened. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

22. Continuous Improvement A professional learning community always looks to the future and seeks new possibilities that will allow the individual and the organization to develop maximum potential. A professional learning community always looks to the future and seeks new possibilities that will allow the individual and the organization to develop maximum potential. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007