This document discusses professional learning communities (PLCs) and their importance for school librarians. It begins by outlining the learning intentions of understanding PLC components, comparing current practice to those components, and finding ways to participate in PLCs. It then discusses current thinking on PLCs and their student-focused nature. The rest of the document outlines the key components of effective PLCs, including shared values and vision, leadership, collective learning, supportive conditions, and sharing personal practice. Images and quotes are provided to illustrate each component. The document concludes by suggesting ways for school librarians to find connections to their practice and begin participating in PLCs.

1. Finding Our Place
School Librarians and Professional
Learning
#iasl12 Communities

2. A Journey
Today’s Learning Intentions
– understand the components and importance of a
professional learning community
– compare current practice in your building/district to the
components
– locate viable pathways for embedding yourself in the
mocoloco.com/art/archives/005142.php
work of PLCs.

3. “The PLC label has proceeded the concept”
Shirley Hord
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doug88888/3826903398/sizes/o/in/photostream

4. “The term (PLCs) has been used so
ubiquitously that is in danger of losing
all meaning” - Richard DuFour
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7802077@N05/3987062475//

5. Current thinking?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/horiavarlan/4273913228/sizes/o/in/photostream/

6. Current thinking?
“Professionals caring for and working to
improve student learning together, by
engaging in continuous collective learning of
their own” – Andy Hargreaves

7. PLCs are student focused.

8. PLCs are student focused.
“Teachers in the more effective schools made all decisions
based on what was best for students, as opposed to what
was easiest for teachers.”– Todd Whitaker Seven Simple
Secrets

9. PLCs are student focused
• What do we want each student to learn?
• How will we know when each student has learned it?
• How will we respond when a student experiences difficulty
in learning?”
- DuFour

10. A Journey
mocoloco.com/art/archives/005142.php

11. Assessments of
Student Learning
Curricula
Planning
Lesson Design
Teacher Leadership

12. http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/uncategorized/2008/04/10/insp_expendability.jpg

13. •Focus on Teaching and Learning
•Nurturing a Collaborative Culture
•Planning and working strategically
•Teaming with other learning specialists
- Allison Zmuda

15. RTI Formative
Assessments of
Student Learning
Summative
Portfolios

16. PBL Content
Literacy
Curricula
Planning
Iowa Curriculum
Core Mapping

17. Best
Practices
EDI UbD
Lesson Design
Inquiry Concept
Based

18. Data
Team
Leading /
Planning
PD
Teacher Leadership
1:1
initiatives

19. Components of PLCs (Hord)
Shared Shared and Collective Supportive Shared
Beliefs, Supportive Learning Conditions Personal
Values, and Leadership and Its Practice
Vision Application
Focus on Administrators What the Structural Community
student and faculty community Factors – members
learning hold shared decides to time, place, give and
which is power and learn and resources, receive
informed by authority for how they will and policies feedback that
faculty’s making learn it in Relational – informs their
own decisions order to Human and individual
learning impact intrapersonal improvement
students development / and the
needs needs organization

20. Components of PLCs (Hord)
http://db.tt/n9k92O88
Shared Shared and Collective Supportive Shared
Beliefs, Supportive Learning Conditions Personal
Values, and Leadership and Its Practice
Vision Application
Focus on Administrators What the Structural Community
student and faculty community Factors – members
learning hold shared decides to time, place, give and
which is power and learn and resources, receive
informed by authority for how they will and policies feedback that
faculty’s making learn it in Relational – informs their
own decisions order to Human and individual
learning impact intrapersonal improvement
students development / and the
needs needs organization

21. Where to Begin?
Finding connections to your
practice.
Form at http://db.tt/tOkKuOm7
http://www.vibrant.com/images/cables/colorful-mess-zenji.jpg

22. Shared Beliefs, Values, and Vision
flickr.com/photos/aaronigma/5068087231/sizes/l/in/photostream

23. Shared and Supportive Leadership

24. Collective
Learning and
Its Application
Photo: Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY

25. Supportive Conditions
- Structural Factors
Time, Place,
Resources, Policies

26. Supportive Conditions
- Relational Factors
The people factor
http://www.dreamstime.com

27. Shared personal practice
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/politicalpulse/4426535830 /

28. Finding Our
Place
Ernie Cox
ernest.cox@gmail.com
Twitter: erniec
prairiecreeklibrary.blogspot.com
School Librarians and Professional
Learning
Communities