The document proposes redesigning professional learning opportunities for educators by bringing together teachers from different schools on specific themes. It suggests meeting at various "family" sites in the mornings after September to work collaboratively on topics like building community, using technology, inquiry-based learning, assessment, and professional learning communities. Educators would customize the morning activities at each site to address local needs while also exploring themes. The goal is to think, learn, and connect together as professionals to develop strategies that work, rather than working in isolation which wastes time and resources.

1. IMAGINE!Redesigning Professional Learning

2. Our Big Idea

3. Just us. Together. Thinking. Learning. Connecting.

4. Doing things differently is risky

5. We harvested a lot of great ideas…

6. But some things didn’t fit

7. Talking isn’t enough

8. We want….Action

9. And we wantFor us and our schools

10. But we know we’re on the right trackJust us. Together. Thinking. Learning. Connecting.

11. Let’s keep imagining together.

12. Imagine possibilities…

13. What about this?

14. In October (after the dust of September has settled)

15. In the morning

16. At eight “family” sites

17. Our FamiliesLadysmith Secondary and feeder schoolsCedar Secondary and feeder schoolsJohn Barsby and feeder schoolsNDSS and feeder schoolsWoodlands and feeder schoolsWellington and feeder schoolsDover and feeder schoolsLearning Alternatives

18. And a possible ninth site open for cross-district specialists.

19. What could we do?

20. Imagine!

21. We work together custom design the morning at each site to fit needs.

22. And Build on our Big ThemesUsing TechnologyMeeting Diverse NeedsBuilding CommunityAssessmentEngagementProfessional Learning CommunitiesInquiryStrategies that Work

23. To create what we imagine.

24. For example…

25. Building Community Grow the connections between schools to enhance transition: mentorship, “buddies,” cross-school events, creating information channels, parent evenings.

26. Using Technology Work together to learn and to use technology (blogs, wiki, skype), share classroom applications and create ways to digitally connect.

27. Inquiry Learn together and share knowledge to develop inquiry questions and strategies that work in our curriculum.

28. Assessment Grade group meetings across schools to discuss assessment (imagine if everyone brought in student samples).

29. Add the Cool Factor

30. Connect through technology in real time with all sites.

31. Fill up Virtual Resource Rooms in a Learning Hub that educators across the district can all access.

32. Contribute to professional discussion on our Working Together Moodle.

33. But what’s most important…Just us. Together. Thinking. Learning. Connecting.

34. Let’s begin planning together

35. We need to find time to work together

36. Because we’re too busy to do it alone

37. And we don’t have time to keep reinventing the wheel

38. And becauseNone of us is as smart as all of us.Kenneth Blanchard