Branching diagram

Week 11 Infographic

Enhancing Education: Effective Professional Development and Learning Communities

All Schools as Professional Learning Communities

Develop the System to Improve Learning

School System Responsibilities

Key Research # 2

Key Research # 2

Key Research # 2

Key Research # 1

Key Research # 1

Key Research # 1

Standard Connection

Standard Connection

Standard Connection

Role of district leaders, influence of systems on professional learning, district actions, and support for teachers.

Summary Focus:

Sustaining school reforms, systemic approach to school improvement, organizational change, and professional development.

Summary Focus:

Professional learning communities (PLCs), characteristics of effective PLCs, leadership, and culture in PLCs.

Summary Focus:

Continuous Improvement: Aligns by emphasizing the importance of ongoing, embedded professional development and systemic approaches to school improvement.

Leadership for Learning: Aligns by highlighting the role of district leaders in providing effective professional learning and supporting teacher retention.

Learning Communities: Aligns by confirming the effectiveness of PLCs in improving teacher practices and student outcomes.

Professional Development that Changes Teaching and Improves Learning

• Purpose: Evaluate the effectiveness of professional development programs in changing teaching practices and improving student learning. • Participants: Teachers from various schools participating in the SummerSTEM program. • Methodology: Mixed-methods approach including surveys and interviews. • Findings: Effective professional development requires ongoing, embedded support and a focus on autonomy, mastery, and purpose. • Connection: Update on effective professional development practices (Germuth, 2016).

Practices of Professional Learning Communities

• Purpose: Investigate the practices of PLCs in Finnish schools. • Participants: Teachers and principals from four Finnish comprehensive schools. • Methodology: Qualitative multiple-case study. • Findings: Leadership, culture, and teacher collaboration are crucial for the success of PLCs. • Connection: Confirmation of systemic approaches and organizational change (Antinluoma et al., 2021).

The Role of Continuing Professional Training or Development in Teacher Retention

• Purpose: Examine how continuing professional development influences teacher retention. • Participants: Teachers from various educational institutions. • Methodology: Systematic review of existing studies. • Findings: Ongoing professional development is critical for retaining teachers and improving their job satisfaction. • Connection: Update on the impact of professional development on teacher retention (Cells et al., 2023).

Professional Learning in the Learning Profession

• Purpose: Identify effective professional learning practices and their impact on teaching. • Participants: Educators from different states and countries. • Methodology: Comparative analysis of professional learning practices. • Findings: High-quality professional learning is essential for improving teaching practices and student outcomes. • Connection: Confirmation of the role of district leaders in providing effective professional learning (Darling-Hammond et al., 2009).

Trends of Teacher Professional Development Strategies

• Purpose: Analyze current trends in teacher professional development strategies. • Participants: Teachers from various educational settings. • Methodology: Systematic review of professional development strategies. • Findings: Collaborative and job-embedded professional development strategies are most effective. • Connection: Update on effective PLC practices (El Islami et al., 2022).

The Impact of Professional Learning Communities on Teacher Practice and Student Achievement

• Purpose: Evaluate the impact of PLCs on teacher practice and student achievement. • Participants: Teachers and students from multiple schools. • Methodology: Longitudinal study with quantitative data analysis. • Findings: PLCs significantly improve teacher practices and student achievement. • Connection: Confirmation of the effectiveness of PLCs (Dogan & Adams, 2018).