To maintain a future focus teachers need to be continually learning themselves. This means engaging in professional learning communities where educationally challenging discussions and sharing of practice occur. The exposure to new ideas and ways of teaching ensures teachers are continuing to learn and improve their practice. Professional learning communities need to be more than networks; they need to stimulate and provoke teacher learning and development.
A learning community is a group of organisations or individuals that operate as a collaborative network. Some are face to face but many are connected via the Internet.
A learning community provides opportunities for educators to connect with others, share ideas and resources, reflect critically on their practice, and create new knowledge about teaching and learning.
Learning is a continual process, lasting for a lifetime. Learning and work related activities are no longer separate. In many situations, they are the same.
– Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age
Strong principles of an effective learning community include connection and collaboration. Participants can:
Participation also provides an opportunity for on–going, self–directed learning and ownership of professional development.
Schools are being talked about as “learning organisations”, and educators are encouraged to become “professional learning communities” or even “networked learning communities” within and across schools. School leaders have responsibility for supporting and sustaining a continuous culture of learning amongst staff, in a dynamic environment.
– Supporting future-oriented learning and teaching – a New Zealand perspective
Mary Ann Baxter and Kathy Paterson, teachers from Hamilton Girls' High School, describe how their staff developed as a professional learning community through incorporating the key competency – managing self – with e-learning and ICT.
20 Tips for Creating a Professional Learning Network
An article outlining 10 tips for using professional learning networks.
Get started by exploring existing communities.
VLN groups – The Virtual Learning Network (VLN) groups is a social network for teachers, school leaders and facilitators to connect, share experiences, and learn together. The main intent is to foster the co-construction, co-development, and sharing of best practice in blended learning environments.
English Online mailing lists – The English Online mailing list is a place to share ideas, request help and resources, and establish professional relationships.
ESOL Online mailing lists – Links to all the ESOL and literacy mailing lists. Join the relevant groups to participate in email-based discussions.
Arts Online – Arts Online promotes professional communication through community discussion groups for each discipline, for primary and early childhood teachers, and for secondary school arts coordinators.
Media Studies – Join the Media Studies mailing list on TKI. This list is set up to allow the community to send emails to the whole group.
DTTA – The Digital Technologies Teachers Aotearoa is an association with the goal of advocating for our subjects. The aim of the association is to create a community of teachers where we can share resources, communicate and speak with one voice to get our subject area recognised and supported.
NZAMT – The national body representing teachers of Mathematics at all levels.
NZATE – The national body representing teachers of English at all levels.
NZASE – The national body representing teachers of science at all levels.
ASSEN – Aotearoa Social Studies Educators' Network.
NZALT – Professional association for language teachers in New Zealand.
TENZ – Technology Education New Zealand (TENZ) is a professional association supporting and promoting all levels and areas of technology education in New Zealand.
NZHEA – The NZ Health Education Association provides a professional community of support for health educators.
EONZ – A national professional organisation supporting education outside the classroom (EOTC) and education outdoors.
Use these discussion starters in conjunction with the e-Learning Planning Framework to identify and develop professional learning communities within your school or cluster that share e-learning understandings and practices focused on improved student learning outcomes.
Teachers discuss using the Virtual Learning Network as part of a blended professional learning model and the benefits it has had for their cluster.
Josie Woon talks about the potential of Enabling e-Learning community groups to impact on teacher practice.
The Virtual Learning Network (VLN), He kōtuinga ako ā-ipurangi, is an interactive resource provided by the Ministry of Education for all New Zealand educators.
"VLN Groups is a social network for teachers, school leaders and facilitators to connect, share experiences, and learn together. The main intent is to foster the co-construction, co-development, and the sharing of, best practice in blended learning environments."
Benefits of connecting, sharing, and collaborating in the VLN include:
Josie Woon, Assistant Principal at Takaro School, talks about how and why she uses the Virtual Learning Network. The community has helped her integrate technology into her class in a purposeful way by enabling her to connect with other "expert" teachers.
Inside the VLN are VLN Groups – an online community for teachers, school leaders, and facilitators to connect, share experiences, and learn together.
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Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako
Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako help students to achieve their full potential. Here, education providers can learn about Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako and how to join.
Teacher standards and e-learning: Professional relationships
Look at how technologies can help you maintain professional relationships.
Professional learning groups to support school-wide e-learning at Epsom Girls Grammar
In this video clip from the NZC Online secondary middle leaders site on TKI, Claire Amos, Director of e-learning at Epsom Girls Grammar School, discusses how learning area professional learning groups support teachers with e-learning.
Tineka Tuala-Fata, DP at Peterhead School, describes the "Formative Coaching" model used at her school. This combines the power of structured peer observation, the sharing of good practice, learning conversations in teams, and reflective journals.
Building communities of practice
Cheryl Doing talks about the importance of establishing norms and protocols when setting up communities of practice.
This website provides some useful research information on developing professional learning communities. It contains resources to support the successful integration of ICT in learning.
Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education
This international association is made up of teachers, educators, and affiliated organisations of teacher educators. Their focus is on the use of information technology in teacher education and staff development.
The Ministry of Education has identified the need to further explore the use of Virtual Learning Environments, particularly in the context of te reo Māori and kaupapa Māori education. This literature review was sought to provide further understanding for the Ministry of Education in this area.