Morse: Chapter 2 RR

Learning communities are defined by educators working in a collaborative group with colleagues to benefit the students learning in a way that allows them to develop skills using productive lessons. These lessons will be used and created as part of a team allowing for a range of ideas from the different perspectives. As part of a traditional classroom, teachers often forget that they have a team of teachers that are working on the same subject and it is important that they use their resources to build from one another and create the best lesson plans they can. These traditional classrooms can be changed into a learning community by one teacher taking the initiative to try something new. Collaboration and communication are essential for this practice to be able for students to ahiceve the learning goals. It also takes a group who has an open mind and respect for one another. The ideas that are brought to the table need to be respected, but also able to be constructively critized. Carmel Crane's high school shared a techniqued that allowed for the teacher to introduce her lesson plans to a panel of ten teachers before she presented into the students. This allowed for constructive critizism and feedback on what she may have not thought about. In the end, all of these ideas were put towards the goal of the students learning the curriculm. Students are also able to work collaboratively in a group and learn together. As for the benefits, they are able to learn new patterns of thinking, learn from others in a group, and most importantly how to learn together. Everyday businesses and jobs are looking for people who can work as a team and use these skills to accomplish big goals. Learning communities allows for just that. In order for educators to do this for their students, they must keep in mind that it is important that students learn, create a classroom that invites collaboration and focus on the results from the students and teacher. All of these aspects can benefit the teacher by allowing for the teacher to become less isolated from the rest of the school, shared responsibility of a team, and powerful learning from both the teachers and the students. This type of learning can be used in our project for several different lessons, especially with the lesson which plans on talking to Brazil through epals. It is also represented in our project through Kyla and myself working together to develop lesson plans and provide feedback and constructive critizism on the lessons we introduce to each other - and one day our students.