1.
Focus of Learning Communities:
The focus seems to be making time for new ways of working with
colleagues and peers to promote academics by being innovative (coming up with
new ideas) whether it is virtual or face-to-face. During this time frequent and intentional collaboration,
communication, and team work amongst (several) teachers allows for the
development of projects that incorporate cutting-edge technology and solve
problems with the help of other people's critical feedback, rather than
doing it all alone. This allows for other
points of views to create the best learning environment possible for students. This feedback can be from a teacher in your
building or from a teacher on the other side of the world as seen in the
example of Julie Lindsay which I thought was a great way to collaborate.
2.
Benefits of Learning Communities:
I believe it is working closely with colleagues/peers and having somebody
to brainstorm with. This is a great way
for professional growth! Especially when it comes to planning and
reflecting about the classroom. Teachers
can connect with other teachers and support each other through 21st-century projects. They can learn new patterns of thinking,
learn how to capitalize on the wisdom of the group, and learn how to learn from
others. I believe this can be
intimidating, especially if one person is set in their ways, but can highly benefit
an individual as a projects takes off since it is a lot easier to divide the
work and necessary resources amongst several people than do it all alone. I can learn from other people and reviewing
what other people are doing helps me develop curriculum and reflect better as a
teacher, because I have somebody else to compare it to. Two or more heads are better than one, so I
believe that more teachers are better than one when spreading good ideas that
can drive a school forward. Now the book
calls the benefits: decreased teacher isolation, increased commitment to the
mission, shared responsibility, more powerful learning, and a higher likelihood
of fundamental, systematic change.
3.
How Learning Communities affect
teachers:
Teachers are immersed in rich learning experiences and new context for
learning creates new opportunities for teachers to work together with a shared interest
and goal in mind, even if it is via an online community of teachers or as in
the example of Julie Lindsay, on the other side of the world. Teachers need to
find time to watch and reflect on each other's classroom interactions and give
each other critical feedback. Teachers
are no longer isolated in the classroom and have other peers/teachers that
share their passion/focus for a project/theme.
Being part of an online community of educators with whom one should
connect frequently in order to learn, collaborate, share, and support one
another. Teachers seek their own
opportunities for learning.
4.
How Learning Communities affect
students:
It focuses on what students are learning by collaborating in teams/groups
to develop the skills necessary in the "real world." Students learn to communicate, solve
problems, manage projects, learn how to motivate others and themselves, as well
as be persistent in getting a project completed. This in turn helps them build bonds as they
share triumphs and disappointments.
5.
Components for shared vision in
Learning Communities:
The book describes that one should have a clear sense of mission, share a
vision of the conditions they must create to achieve the mission, work together
in collaborative teams to determine the best practice to achieve the mission,
organize into groups headed by teacher-leaders, focus on student learning, are
goal-and results-oriented, collaborate with each other, hold shared values and
beliefs, commit themselves to continuous improvement, and see themselves as
life-long learners. I agree that as
teachers who are trying to make a difference with digital-age projects we need
to be life-long learners and focus our energy on student learning with the
collaboration of others. I love how
there are many resources available for ongoing projects to help us see the
components in action. I particularly
like the GLOBE website since I love science.
6.
How this chapter relates to our
topic/project:
Even though we may feel uncomfortable and intimidated because we are not
100% familiar with all of the technology or what is required of us in the group
project, we are learning that it is important to communicate and collaborate in
order to create a final project for instructional purposes that is centered
around a shared topic. We are collaborating by having developed a network with
other educators/peers online by creating our own group blog and making time
to look at other groups' blogs. By
creating a concept map together on a group blog as well as posting our blogs on
the chapters as part of a book study we can share and receive critical feedback
that is beneficial for our personal growth.
I think this chapter is well put in your reflection. I think its super important that as teachers we do take advantage of the fact that their are other teachers and to be the best we can be. Collaboration will help make our lessons better and its very important that even if the school doesn't make time for us to that we find a time anyways. I also agree thats its important to have a clear vision because if you have a clear vision everything should fall into place. I agree that what we are doing in our groups is practicing building a learning community because of the fact that we are all working individually but also at the same time putting our ideas together and getting feedback and opinions so that way we can make the best lesson website possible!!!
ReplyDeleteyour reflection is very well written. You did a good job explaining all the concepts of community learning. I really liked that in how community learning affects student you said "This in turn helps them build bonds as they share triumphs and disappointments." I believe this is a really important idea, working off each other and sharing in success and disappointments will allow the students to learn and grow as a team which will help them later in life.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection was written very well. I like how you incorporated things that the book stated, as well as tying it into your own personal opinion. I really liked what you had to say about the benefits of the Learning Communities and felt like everything that needed to be addressed was. I agree that without establishing a Learning Community we as teachers would not be able to create this "real world" type of learning that goes on, as well as the PBL. We as teachers already face so many struggles of teaching curriculum and dealing with so many other things, It doesn't make sense to not engage with other teachers and brainstorm together. At the end of the day, we are all fighting the same fight to educate students, and why wouldn't we use our fellow employes to learn from? Especially if we all have different prospectives, that could be a huge advantage in the long run. Your reflection was very well stated. And I agree that we should always be being our best and preforming our best, we do have the future relying on us and looking up to us. We can not be ignorant, we must be willing to be able to push aside differences and work together regardless of other factors.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciated her answer to number two. She really got into depth about how learning communities really benefits the teachers and the students. I realized even being in college and working on group projects and having someone else to help you and critique your work really helps ones personal growth. Learning communities give so many benefits that are often hard for one to grasp on to especially when one is set in their ways but ultimately the idea and practice helps teachers, students, and even school districts as a whole.
ReplyDelete