Session 1- inquiry PLG

We had a good session , our group picks up a wide range of learning areas and levels within the school. I started the session with a tuning in activity called forced association. the aim was to link a series of images to a theme in this case it was assumptions. We then talked around what happens when we pre plan learning without taking the time to consider needs and abilities. We followed this with a post box activity where we recorded responses for these questions:
What part does our strategic goal of literacy play in inquiry learning?
How do you see inquiry learning being different from traditional learning?
What part can habits of mind play in inquiry learning?
what are the challenges inquiry presents?
How does inquiry learning reflect our goal around differentiation?
what do you want to get out of this PLG?

I've collated these responses to help plan future sessions.
We then moved onto diamond ranking. i gave the group 9 quotes to rank around which quotes they felt reflected the beliefs around inquiry learning. The top ranking quote was :It is not the answer that enlightens but the question"

I then encouraged the group to start a mind map as a reflective tool to go back to each week. Unlike a true mind map each week we meet use a different colour to show progression of thoughts. the readings we took away were a interview transcript from Art Costa on inquiry and a chapter from understanding by design called the expert blind spot.

It took a while to warm up but i think we will be ok:-) Hopefully Robyn somewhere along the line I'll be able to use my IWB as part of the PLG too.

First PLG Session...

I am really excited about my new PLG! It was a small group on Monday but everyone expressed ideas and we generated some really good discussion. I have to admit I was quite nervous before our first session, and I still am to a certain extent, but now I am keen to get talking, thinking and reflecting! We spent some time in this first session discussion how our PLG would function, exploring our beliefs around teaching at the moment and also discussed what direction we would like to head in. There were heaps of ideas bantered around but most seemed to focus on the change for students as they move away from homeroom at Year 8 into Year 9 and what this should / does mean for our thinking, planning, teaching and the learning of the girls. The group would like to run focus group with some Year 9 students who have attended Southland Girls' since Year 7 to collect some student voice around these areas as well as touching base with our Year 9 and 10 students to see how we . Sounds like a very exciting discussion path to be on. Noreen - have you got any reading material that I could look at before I start looking elsewhere?

Project ACTI Vate

We have just had our third PD Day for Project ACTIVate for this year which is a bit like an 'extended PLG'. Teachers reported back on their projects and it was very exciting to hear what has been happening, but more importantly the effect that their research and reflective practice is having on student learning. It was great hearing teachers from quite different teaching backgrounds discuss and share ideas and support each other. The other thing that really impressed me today was the excitement of the teachers - they realise that this type of approach really does enhance student learning.

PLG leaders introduction

welcome to our place where we can share ideas about effective Pd practice with out professial learning groups . Hopefully through the PLG process you will learn lots too . The imporatnt thing is not to think it is about being an expert but to become more skilled at reflections on pracice and creating change for students ansd improving their achievement .

Thank you for offering to take a PLG and we will give you some more ideas tomorrow at the meeting in my office. Sharee and Noreen have the INSTEP draft findings with lots of readings and references to what makes for teacher change and development so if you want to read let us know .

Ola!

Here's the first post for the Southland Girl's High School Professional Learning Groups. It's a space for us to reflect on the use of PLGs in a school environment, successes, obstacles, and other discussion.

It may also provide a useful archive of PD completed during the school year.

Ray