Professional+Learning+Communities

Introduction Welcome to the CMSV course titled "Building Professional Learning Communities to Improve Student Learning." I am the professor Dr. Michael J. Gill. On this class page, you will find important information to guide our learning. A key component of this class is "collegial" communication. We will be utilizing the discussion board regularly.

Assignment for Week of January 9, 2016 1. Read the article "Starting with the Soul" (posted below) and participate in online discussion board (minimum of two posts). 2. Visit the website "All Things PLC" (posted below). Read one of the inspirational stories on PLC's. Compose a short response about how the schools are "Making It Happen." Submit to professor via email or hard copy. 3. Write an inspirational story about your organization - it can be district/school/classroom. If you do not have a current inspirational story, create one about what the future would be like in your organization. Submit to professor via email or hard copy.

Assignments for Week of January 16, 2016 1. Read the article titled "Is Giving the Secret to Getting Ahead." Write a one page analysis linking this article to concepts discussed in class. 2. Read one of the articles below under course materials. Write a one page reflection/analysis. Submit via email or hard copy. 3. Watch the video about school and creativity produced by TED and the speech given by Sir Ken Robinson - the link is below under CREATIVITY. Answer the questions listed below under GUIDING QUESTIONS FOR VIDEO. You do not have to submit your work. Be prepared to discuss in class.

Assignments for week of January 23, 2016 2. Develop an opening days lesson that would create a community of learners in your classroom. Think about the focus on learning and community. This should be a one page document.

Course Outline



Guiding Questions for Video 1. Why does Robinson claim schools are destroying creativity? 2. How does he suggest we should "do" school differently? 3. What are three ideas from the video you can incorporate into your schools/classrooms?

Quotes "Fortune favors the experimental mind." - DuFours, et. al.

"Good thinkers solve problems, they never the lack ideas that can build an organization, and they always have hope for a better future." - John Maxwell

Course Materials ‍ ‍ Course Text "How Full is Your Bucket" by Rath and Clifton "Beyond Discipline: From Compliance to Community by Alfie Kohn "Productive Group Work" by Fisher, Frey and Everlove "Teaching with the Brain in Mind" by Eric Jensen

Websites [|Matt Cutts TED Talk] [] [] [] [|Creativity] [|Gladwell] [|ASCD] [|PLC - DuFours] [|All Things PLC] [|PLC Power Point]