What+you+need+to+know+about+PLCs

====Your PLC could be a group of colleagues from your workplace or district, including classroom teachers, teacher-librarians, administrators, resource room teachers, and educational assistants. Your team could meet in person to work in a collaborative manner to address a learning-focused goal. Alternately, Web 2.0 tools can be used to structure an online professional learning community.====

====PLCs are designed with the goal of improving the learning and working situations of students and teachers. Some of the many benefits include: "reduced isolation of teachers, better informed and committed teachers, and academic gains for students" [|(Public Schools of North Carolina, 2012)] Please visit this page for more details on the benefits of a PLC: [|WHY ARE PLCs IMPORTANT?]====

====A teacher-librarian's job is complex. Teacher-librarians require a strong knowledge of their jurisdiction's curriculum, and expertise in areas such as literacy, technology and exceptional learner needs. Consider inviting content-area teachers, literacy or technology specialists and other educators to be part of your learning community. The expertise of others can only enhance your practice...and improved practice means improved learning for students!====

Step 1: Determine School and Staff Readiness.

Step 2: Consider the Use of an External Change Facilitator.

Step 3: Identify Barriers and Boosters.

Step 4: Begin with the Learning.

Step 5: Create a Theory of Change.

====A teacher's profession is a fundamental part of the teacher's personal identity. Sharing, analyzing and critiquing lessons, techniques and practices can be uncomfortable for some. PLC members must feel safe and supported, and building trust time.====

====Many teachers are accustomed to working in isolation. If a culture of collaboration does not already exist in the school, PLC members may need guidance in developing a collaborative culture. This too takes time.====

** 5) What's the difference between a Personal Learning Community and a Personal Learning Network? **
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Related to the idea of PLCs is the **//Personal Learning Network//**. Here's a good description of a PLN, taken from **//edtech VISION//**:
====//"A PLN is a reciprocal network that you create to learn from, connect with, gather information or resources, create with and finally share what you have learned. A PLN can occur in your school, face-to-face, online, at conferences or through reading, reflecting and sharing"//. See Colette Cassinelli's complete blog post about PLN's here.====

====Check out this blog post for tips on starting your PLN, a suggested reading list and a video featuring Will Richardson speaking about creating a PLN and helping students to develop their own PLNs: 5 Things You Can Do to Begin Developing Your Personal Learning Network====

educators and the various ways a PLN can be useful:
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