Introduction
The benefits of a professional learning community (PLC) to school culture can be hardly underestimated. Due to the efforts by teachers and the other school workers within a PLC process their schools become better educational and pedagogic establishments. In the following paper, the results of the researches done by Joyce and Showers, Thessin and Starr, and Sink and Edwards in the area of the benefits of PLC to school culture along with the application of this information in my work setting will be discussed.
Main text
The two articles discussing the value of the PLC process for school culture by Thessin and Starr, and Sink and Edwards help see the practical points of PLC. Their authors relate particular elements of a school culture which can be affected in case PLC is efficiently implemented in any particular school. The results of the research by Joyce and Showers showed in Figure 2 also indicate particular areas which might benefit greatly as a result of PLC implementation in any particular school.
The results of the above-mentioned researches may be well applicable to my work setting as the need is rather great there for the improvement of school culture and educational concepts applied in it. First of all, with regards to the theme discussed in the paper, specific needs for learners in an educational setting are to be identified. Through such an evaluation, it is possible to identify the areas where the learners show weak performance and find ways of improving it (Sink & Edwards, 2008). This ensures that the school administration puts the right strategies in place that assist the learners to get the quality education they are supposed to get (Thessin & Starr, 2011). Classroom instruction is an important tool that should be utilized in the right manner to ensure that the learners achieve the desired results. In situations where there are no adequate materials for classroom instruction, the performance of the learners goes down. The frameworks of motivation, management, instruction, and assessment are to be addressed in connection to the topic. Assessment is important and is achieved through class examinations. This important idea is also identified in the researches by Joyce and Showers. Motivation is important for learners since it ensures that they work harder towards achieving the best results they can achieve. Some of the methods of motivating learners include giving them rewards after a good performance and complementing their good work. In their article, Thessin & Starr provide numerous recommendations concerning the use of varied motivation methods within the frameworks of PLC which are dedicated to inspiring students for better achievements in their school subjects (2011). Management involves ensuring that the learners do what they are supposed to do without fail. This is achieved through monitoring them very closely. Instruction is achieved through the teachers who deliver the knowledge learners are supposed to acquire in class. The four frameworks (motivation, management, instruction, and assessment) must be incorporated into the professional development plan to have a well-rounded learning environment that supports student progress in learning as is seen in the findings by Sink & Edwards (2008).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the value of PLC to school culture is very significant. The researches by many respected specialists prove this important truth. The findings by Joyce and Showers, Thessin and Starr, and Sink and Edwards help see particular details which might be successfully implemented into the professional development plan.
References
Sink, C. A., & Edwards, C. (2008). Supportive Learning Communities and the Transformative Role of Professional School Counselors. Professional School Counseling, 12(2), 108+. Web.
Thessin, R. A., & Starr, J. P. (2011). Supporting the Growth of Effective Professional Learning Communities Districtwide: Teachers Do Not Magically Know How to Work with Colleagues; Districts Must Support and Lead That Work If PLCs Are to Live Up to Their Potential. Phi Delta Kappan, 92(6), 48+. Web.