1. Benefits of Professional Learning Communities from the Perspective of Higher Education EDUC 734 Summer 2014 Guadalupe Valdivia

2. Background A PLC is as a group of experts and specialist that are committed to improve their own practice and help students achieve (Annenberg Institute, 2004). These groups engage in “dialogue, inquiry, and reflection” for the purpose of creating new meaning and knowledge that result in taking action. Members of a PLC take proactive role in improving their self to better do their job and provide serves to families with their expertise. Peter Senger, who is the organizational change expert, introduced professional learning communities (PLCs) in the 1990s. It was not until 2000, when Senger book, Schools that Learn, introduce the idea to adopt PLCs in educational organizations. Today, PLCs have a significant role in educational organization and educational reform

3. Characters of Effective PLCs Supportive Shared leadership and vision Structures to support collaboration shared accountability through shared practice collective inquiry and creativity Others: mutual trust, respect & support among staff members, and inclusive membership focuses on learning rather than teaching have strong “instruction, equity, and results”

4. Staff Benefits commitment to the mission and goals of the institution increased good teaching and classroom practice creates new knowledge and beliefs about teaching feel a sense of responsibility for students’ well-being and academic success

5. Student Benefits fewer absences (related more to teaching style) less dropouts and incomplete degrees improve in the subject’s math, science, history, and reading (K-12: Less Pre-requisites/retaking) education becomes distributed more equitably in the smaller high schools (K-12: AVID: MARC: McNair: RIMI- HD) reduce the achievement gaps between students from different backgrounds

6. Partnership Benefits learn about new structures, activities & rethinking of the way each organization operates as well as how they might work enables parties from all organizations to learn from one another and exposes them to new ideas tap into specialized knowledge, networks, and capabilities that are useful for projects related to purposes Improve the evolution of PLCs due to complex interactions among partnerships PLCs go through change themselves, which are “fluid entities, constantly evolving as they learn from their experiences

7. Impacting Curriculum & Co-Curriculum good test-takers versus embracing diversity of intelligence/talents not being able to find employment Teachers at a UK university found that the use of “co- curriculum activities” in higher education become ECAs, which had many positive effects on students academic life, such as helping with adapting to school culture and transition to employment. Seek PLCs ->International Conference Learn about multi-disciplinary approach of “life-wide learning’ captures the idea that learning occurs through formal and informal experiences in different ‘learn­ing spaces.’

8. Impacting Global Economy Many professionals have express that workshops or guest speakers can serve as a space of learning communities/sharing knowledge for students, staff, and professionals from any discipline. These opportunities of interactions and application can help PLCs see what are the new trends in the popular culture (social networks) According to Zhao, in a “global world” school personal needs individuals with diverse talents rather than individuals with the same competencies (internships) students get practical experience helps PLCs reach out to higher education institutions to see what are the areas they need future employers be strong in

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