Satff+Development+through+risk+taking

11/03/2011 Attached is the compiled research on PLCs and action research projects as professional development initiatives to increase collaboration, collegiality, and student achievement at Hickory Ridge High School.



11/1/2011 Found some information on PLCs that I will add as a professional development initiative to help increase teacher collaboration and increase student achievement.

Rick DuFour's Book: Revisiting Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at Work: New insights for Improving Schools highlights the process and impact of PLCs in schools. While PLCs are common in many schools I have never been able to personally experience a PLC at work. Reading sections of the text provided insight into what PLCs are and how they can be effectively utilized. The book also touches on roadblocks to the success of the PLC.

DuFour, R., DuFour, R. B., & Eaker, R. E. (2008). //Revisiting professional learning communities at work: New insights for improving schools//. Bloomington: Solution Tree.

10/26/11 In researching professional development opportunities to improve the school I’ve come across a few good ideas. Traditional professional development is mostly found to be ineffective. The text states that adults only apply about 10% of the information learned in professional development workshops. One promising alternative that I was able to find was that of action research. Action research is promising because when supported in schools it provides participants with - increased focus on student achievement - increased collegiality and collaboration - increased levels of communication

Action Research Opportunities for Collegiality and Collaboration This article explores ways that collaboration could be used to promote school reform. Through the use of action research investigators were able to collect qualitative data on the traits, habits, advantages, and disadvantages of action research projects. Interestingly, some schools struggled with promoting collaboration and the root cause of this was lack of administrator support for the action research program.

Lauer, P.A. (2001). Opportunities for critical collegiality through collaborative action research. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Seattle, WA.

Action Research Pre-service and Experienced Teachers Experience the Power of Action Research In this article researchers found that pre-service/beginning teachers report benefiting from the action research process. Teachers report feelings of increased collaboration and a better understanding of student needs as a result of the inquiry based format of the action research project.

Levin, B.B., & Rock, T.C. (2003). The effects of collaborative action research on pre-service and experienced teacher partners in professional development schools. //Journal of Teacher Education,// //54//(2), 135-150.

Action Research Sustaining Teacher Growth with Professional Development



Researchers identified 3 main themes in their research of teachers utilizing the action research method as a form of professional development. The themes included a deepened sense of school community, increased value on classroom research, and classroom research was viewed as a professional growth cycle. The article discussed to the collaborative nature of action research and how effective it can be if correctly supported and utilized in schools.

Gilles, C., Wilson, J., & Elias, M. (2010). Sustaining teachers’ growth and renewal through action research, induction programs, and collaboration. //Teacher Education Quarterly, 37(1), 91-108//

//--// 10/23/2011 I have begun researching topics in staff development. Will post articles shortly.