RSA #1 Implementing PLC's and Rick DuFour Groups vs Teams

Online Resource:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hV65KIItlE

By:  Bridget Heenan

1/22/2011

            The readings from this week focused on the main components of starting a Professional Learning Community (PLC) and how to assess the PLC’s standing with their goals along with how to facilitate the PLC so that the Professional Learning Community will last.  Since there were three main topics discussed within the textbook and the online assigned reading I decided to focus on just one part to the reading and that is the formation of the teams.

            In the textbook reading the author discusses how to form the PLC team as well as what the role of members within the team should entail.  The following are just small pieces of what Martin-Kniep discussed about PLC teams being formed and the members roles.  “Holds all members accountable for what they know and for what they are trying to understand.”  “They can share questions, ideas to be tested, and projects in the making.  In other words, the professional learning community is a place to belong.”  “Each member sees himself or herself not only as a professional, rigorously investigating his or her own practice, but also as a colleague helping others document and refine their practice.” (Martin-Kniep, 2008)

            In the online reading Professional Learning Communities: Sustaining School Improvement discusses the so called, “key elements” for a professional learning community.  I would like to focus on what the key elements of the PLC are according to this article because it relates to implementing the PLC.  “In a professional learning community, teachers and administrators (1) share a vision focused on student learning, (2) share leadership and decision making, and (3) work and learn together as they continually examine instructional practices – all of which are supported by strong personal and professional relationships, time for collaboration, and good communication.”  (Professional Learning Community: Sustaining School Improvement, 2003).

            If felt that both of these readings focused on people working together to accomplish the same goal so I decided to research some youtube videos on PLC’s and some of the founders of PLC’s that were listed in Martin-Kniep’s book.  I found a video by Rick DuFour who was one of the Founders of Professional Learning Communities at Stevenson High School and within the education field.  Rick DuFour discusses the difference between being in a group and being in a team.  Rick DuFour uses a sports analogy to express the difference between groups and teams. 

            After reading the textbook and the online article and watching the Rick DuFour video on groups vs teams I think that Rick DuFour describes being part of PLC in a more meaningful way than the two readings.  There are difference in the sense that Martin-Kniep says that PLC allows for people to feel a sense of belonging and Rick DuFour mentions that just belong to something does not mean you are part of a team that is working together to accomplish the same goal.  I felt that the online article was more on the same page as Rick DuFour. I agree with Rick DuFour that if you really want to see results then the PLC’s needs to take on the roles and responsibilities of team and not a group.

                       

References

Martin-Kniep, G. (2008).  Communities that Learn, Lead, and Last (77-110).  San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL).(2003). Sustaining school improvement: Professional learning community, 1 – 4. Retrieved from http://www.mcrel.org/PDF/LeadershipOrganizationDevelopment/5031TG_proflrncommfolio.pdf

DuFour, R (Creator).  Solution Tree (Poster) (2009, October 9).  Solution Tree: Rick DuFour on Groups vs. Teams [Video] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hV65KIItlE