Standards+Question+11


 * Read the Case Study regarding Learning on page 25 of the NSDC Standards text handed out in class . In your PLC discuss Discussion Questions 1-3. Have a record keeper in your group synthesize your group's responses to these questions. If your group needed more information, describe what you need to know and how you would go about discovering this information.**

One teacher in our group believes that the key ideas are outlined very well in her school as it states in the rationale. During the hiring process, administration talks to candidates about the vision of the school and about what is expected of the teachers at the school. The candidates are then to create a presentation (technology generated) on why this private school is a best fit for them. Then during pre-professional days (after the teacher is hired), they present their presentations to the rest of the faculty and then the group discusses the vision of the school. All teachers are allowed to have input in the discussion and collaborate on their ideas on how they like to teach. Veteran teachers relate stories of what they find to have worked best. Veteran teachers are then paired up with new teachers to help guide them through policies and procedures and to help with trouble shooting through technology training.
 * 1) How well does your school or district address the key ideas outlined in the rationale?

2. Michael Fullan writes about the "implementation dip" when things get worse before they get better. How does this idea relate to your experiences with change? How does knowing about it assist with your work with adults? Change is always inevitable, and sometimes teachers are very resistant to change. Often it takes awhile to get teachers on board to make changes within the classroom and school. Know this helps in the sense that if you plan ahead and prepare for it extensively, it may make the transition less stressful and you may have more teachers on board with you from the start!

3. How does the school or district accommodate different needs among educators? A great way that the one school in our group accommodates different needs among teachers is by providing a combination of professional development. "Experienced teachers share successful strategies they have used in the past to actively engage students, manage time, develop a supportive atmosphere in the classroom and communicate with parents." One would be small group with hands on training, small group discussions, peer meetings, observation with observational feed-backs, and one-on-one mentoring.