Action Overview: Build a Culture for Effective Professional Learning Systems (PLS)

This set of resources is designed to help educators build a culture for effective professional learning systems.

Introduction

An important goal of professional learning is to transform instructional practices that rely on a shared set of habits among adults that de-privatizes practice, supports openness and collaboration, and honors inquiry (Aspen Institute). With this in mind, the leadership team needs to create the cultural foundation for an effective professional learning system by:

How do leadership teams establish a vision and assumptions for the Professional Learning System?

When a vision for the PLS which aligns to the organization’s larger vision is designed intentionally, a culture that will enable the professional learning system to thrive is created. The vision developed by the leadership team should address:

The leadership team is responsible for collaboratively authoring the PLS vision, sharing that vision widely among stakeholders, seeking feedback and revising accordingly so that the vision for the professional learning system is inclusive, relevant, and powerful. Finally, the professional learning system vision must be embraced wide by all educators, supported by leadership, and include continuous improvement cycles in order for deep systemic changes to take root.

How does the needs assessment guide the professional learning system?

Districts and charters should already have engaged in a needs assessment for their organization that examines the desired academic and experiential outcomes for students compared with the current reality. This process results in identifying needs that must be met by the system. According to the theory of action, when improvements in teaching and learning are necessary to address student needs, that’s where the redesign of a professional learning system for educators can have an impact.

What are the goals for the professional learning system?

After building an understanding around the current needs of students and educators throughout the organization, the leadership team should share findings with stakeholders and use the information to set a goal(s). When setting the goal(s), think about the end product of the theory of action outlined in the strategy overview for this section. The goal should focus on:

For example, if in reviewing data a leadership team determined that multiple student groups are not achieving rigorous academic standards, further root cause analysis may show a lack of culturally responsive strategies and materials. Therefore, the goal might be set to ensure all students are held to the same high academic and experiential outcomes. This would be achieved by improving teacher knowledge in employing more culturally responsive strategies within adapted curriculum and using instructional materials and methods designed to meet the needs of all student groups.

Suggested Activities

How do educators use Portal resources to design Professional Learning Communities?

Sources

A New Vision for Professional Learning (Publication). (2017). Oxford, OH: Learning Forward & Washington, DC: Education Counsel. doi: http://educationcounsel.com/?publication=new-vision-professional-learning-toolkit-help-states-use-essa-advance-learning-improvement-systems

Aspen Institute. (2018). Developing a professional learning system for adults in service of student

learning (Publication). Washington, DC: Education and Society Program.

doi:https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/developing-professional-learning-system/

Killion, J. (2013). Comprehensive professional learning system: A workbook for states and districts. Oxford, OH: Learning Forward.

Office of Next Generation Learners (2014). Professional Learning: Kentucky Professional Learning Standards Guidance, Kentucky Department of Education.

Linda Darling-Hammond, Maria E. Hyler, and Madelyn Gardner, with assistance from Danny Espinoza.(2016) Effective Teacher Professional Development. Learning Policy Institute. Washington, D.C

Education & Society Program. Developing a Professional Learning System for Adults in Service Learning. The Aspen Institute, Washington D.C.

Muhammad, Anthony. (2009). Transforming School Culture. Solution-Tree.Com. Solution Tree Press