How to Use Digital Tools to Support Teachers in a PLC. Wiliam M. Ferriter

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Ferriter, William M.

      How to use digital tools to support teachers in a PLC / William M. Ferriter.

      pages cm -- (Solutions)

      Includes bibliographical references.

      ISBN 978-1-942496-00-7 (perfect bound) 1. Professional learning communities. 2. Professional learning communities--Computer networks. 3. Teachers--In-service training--Computer networks. 4. Mentoring in education--Computer networks. I. Title.

      LB1738.F48 2015

      370.71’1--dc23

      2015004803

      Solution Tree Jeffrey C. Jones, CEO Edmund M. Ackerman, President

      Solution Tree Press President: Douglas M. Rife Associate Acquisitions Editor: Kari Gillesse Editorial Director: Lesley Bolton Managing Production Editor: Caroline Weiss Copy Editor: Ashante K. Thomas Proofreader: Elisabeth Abrams Text and Cover Designer: Rian Anderson Compositor: Rachel Smith

      This book is dedicated to Rick and Becky DuFour–two amazing people who leave me inspired, hopeful, and confident that, working together, we CAN create the learning spaces that our students deserve.

      Visit go.solution-tree.com/PLCbooks to access the links mentioned in this book.

      Table of Contents

       About the Author

       Introduction

       Chapter 1: Sharing

       Chapter 2: Cooperating

       Chapter 3: Taking Collective Action

       Author’s Note

       Chapter 1: Sharing

       Finding Sources of Professional Challenge and Inspiration

       Remember to Follow Users With Similar Interests as Yours

       Remember to Find and Follow Hashtags Connected to Your Interests

       Remember That Reading Every Message Is Impossible

       Remember That Sharing Content Is as Important as Finding Content Others Share

       Organizing Comprehensive Collections of Web-Based Resources

       Create a Group in Diigo for Your Learning Team

       Create a Common Tagging Language

       Include Written Descriptions for Every Link

       Set Aside Time to Clean and Polish Your Resource Collection

       Teach Students to Use Diigo for Shared Research Projects

       Conclusion

       Chapter 2: Cooperating

       Successful Negotiating in PLCs

       Moving From Negotiations to the Collaborative Production of Content in PLCs

       Create a Common Naming Structure for Files in Shared Folders

       Create Templates for Common Document Types

       Set Aside Time to Clean Out Shared Folders

       Sharing Beyond Your Learning Team

       Remember Wikis Are Public Places to Store the Shared Content Your Team Is Creating Together

       Add Short Written Descriptions to Every Piece of Content Posted

       Add Links to Files Created in Services Like Google Drive or Dropbox to Your Wiki

       Settle on a Predetermined Structure for Organizing Content

       Assign Monitoring Responsibilities to Individual Teachers

       Leave Wikis Open for Viewing to Facilitate Cooperation Beyond Your Learning Team

       Conclusion

       Chapter 3: Taking Collective Action

       Collective Action Depends on Cohesion

       Use Asynchronous Conversations as Starting Points for Face-to-Face Faculty Discussions

       Make it Possible to Participate in Asynchronous Conversations Anonymously

       Invite Other Important Stakeholders to Be a Part of Asynchronous Conversations

       Use of Digital Tools to Facilitate Collective Action Around Student Learning

       Conclusion

       Epilogue: Change Starts With Unlearning the Obvious

       References

About the Author