Learning Communities

Learning communities has so many meanings.  For students, it could be ‘study buddies’ or a study group where they all mutually meet to achieve one goal.  The goal could be completing an assignment, studying for a test, or practicing for the next basketball game.  For teachers, it is commonly known as a ‘professional learning community’ where the group of educators (i.e. teachers and/or administrators) work collectively to achieve a particular goal.  A goal could be improving mathematics achievement, personal accountability, or literacy.  The group works together as a team to brainstorm possibilities to improve student performance.  Formative and summative data can be used to inform the professional learning community if they are heading in the right direction or not, and opportunities to reassess for a new direction.  For parents, it’s about being a part of the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) or parent volunteer, to stay informed, to be a contribute, and to be involved in their child’s learning.

LEARNING COMMUNITIES is my second platform.  I believe LEARNING IS DIALOGICAL.  WE are all interconnected… students, parents, teachers, administrators, support staff, and community members.  We need to work together to achieve great things.  Great ideas often happen when you have a team behind you, beside you, or in front of you.  You can choose to do something by yourself, but recall a moment when someone helped you out.  It’s much easier, more efficient, and ultimately beneficial for all those involved.  Learning communities involves everyone who cares and wants to help to benefit the whole.  This is my platform as a District of Sechelt school trustee candidate.

From my own experience, I know as a graduate student writing my dissertation on educational leadership is a lonely and isolating learning experience.  I sit in my office… alone… reading or writing about my thesis topic… wondering what other people think about my topic.  I was frustrated for many months not knowing if I was ‘doing it right.’  I needed a learning community.  My supervisors do provide some guidance when I submit some work into them, but I needed a support group, people to bounce ideas from, a network of ABD students who share the same experiences and learning objectives as I do (that is, finish my dissertation).  I found one… two… three LEARNING COMMUNITIES.  I have fellow EdD students here on the Sunshine Coast whom I connect with.  I have a classmates from my Educ 809 course who continues to meet online via Google+.  I have the EGSA or Education Graduate Students’ Association where I had attended a couple of workshops and met great people.  Furthermore, I have colleagues who wish to help, share, and listen.