Chapter 2 Reflection

1.             Discussion on the focus of Learning Communities.

Creating learning communities means making time for new ways of working with colleagues. They are focused on engaging in ongoing, collaborative problem solving that will benefit the whole community. Individuals learn new patterns of thinking, how to capitalize on the wisdom of their group, and how to learn together. Teachers in learning communities will accomplish this by observing others’ classroom interactions, and giving each other critical feedback.

Learning communities are focused on three big student-centered ideas: ensure that students learn, create a culture of collaboration for school improvement, and focus on results. Teachers in learning communities no longer focus on what they teach; they focus on what their students learn.

2.             Discussion on the benefits of Learning Communities.

There are many benefits of learning communities. There is decreased teacher isolation because teachers are encouraged to work and problem solve together. This leads to increased commitment to the mission of educating young students. Teachers are also able to share responsibility while being engaged in more powerful group learning. Students also experience more powerful learning because of the collaborative thinking their teachers bring to the classroom. Finally, there is a higher likelihood of fundamental, systematic change when teachers work together.

3.             Discussion on how Learning Communities affect teachers.

Teachers no longer feel isolated when working in learning communities. They learn new patterns of thinking, how to capitalize on the knowledge of their group members, and how to work with their group members. They are able to watch others’ classroom interactions and are given the chance to give constructive feedback. The opposite is also true, they are able to be observed and receive constructive feedback from others. Teachers are able to participate in group learning while sharing responsibilities. They are also able to generate wider change while working within a group.

4.             Discussion on how Learning Communities affect students.

Students receive more powerful learning because of the collaborative learning their teachers experience. They also benefit from the fact that their learning is their teacher’s focus. Teachers involved in learning communities are also more likely to use project-based learning in their classrooms because the two are very similar. Students benefit from this relevant group work just like their teachers do. They learn to learn together, and they learn skills required in the real world, skills like: communication, problem solving, project management, motivation, and persistence.

5.             Discussion on the components for shared vision in Learning Communities.

All members in the learning community need to have a clear sense of mission and share a vision of the conditions they must create to achieve the mission. They must also work together in collaborative teams to determine the best practice to achieve the mission. Members should be organized into groups headed by teacher-leaders and they should focus on student learning while being goal and results oriented. They should collaborate with each other and hold shared values and beliefs. Finally, they should commit themselves to continuous improvement and see themselves as life-long learners.

6. Discussion on how concepts in this chapter relate to your topic/project.

           

Teachers in learning communities can collaborate on anything going on in their classrooms or their school. Since our topic is classroom kitchen and catering there are many projects that teachers could collaborate on. For example, teachers could work together to create a cookbook for their grade, to develop lessons about nutrition, to put together a bake sale, to develop lessons about kitchen safety, to develop lessons about cooking fun recipes, or to develop lessons about other cultures recipes.