Comments on: Leading a community

By: L C

L C — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:08:54 +0000

It’s so true. It’s so easy to build a community naturally, but it also takes a conscious effort on the part of the teacher to be the mediator between those who feel like non-members of the community, and to firstly create the kind of environment a community thrives upon. The environment is open, welcoming, unbiased, and really free of any judgment, because it allows teachers and learners (whether those be the teachers teaching or teachers learning, and likewise for students) to get the opportunity to be expressive and an asset to the community.

I like this CFG idea. I’ve never heard of it before. So, is it an online forum for teachers and students? Could students use it for peer evaluations on papers, from an unbiased evaluator? Could they have an online mentor?

By: Stephanie Sandifer

Stephanie Sandifer — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:19:18 +0000

Carolyn,

Sounds like you are describing a Critical Friends Group (which is how I often think about my own online PLN). CFGs can be powerful for changing the culture of a school if campus leaders promote/nurture their development. However, even without official school administrative support, teachers can create their own CFG to transform their practice and the culture of their classrooms.

Stephanie

By: dogtrax

dogtrax — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:00:58 +0000

It’s interesting that people feel isolated even in this wired world. There may be more room for connections, but there is still a vacuum of sorts for folks on the edge of exploration.
So, I agree that the leadership at the top is critical.
Take care
Kevin

By: Lisa Thumann

Lisa Thumann — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:05:49 +0000

Carolyn – I’m so glad to see you posting this as a suggestion to other educators. Getting our colleagues to talk about our profession (and not complain about it) has proven to be quite a challenge for me. Those not involved in a PLN or some type of social network seem to disconnect once they leave the school building. I would think they would want to relieve the feeling of isolation by increasing the lines of communication.

By: Joel Adkins

Joel Adkins — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:55:07 +0000

Amen. This is so right on, Carolyn. I especially agree with the idea that it isn’t about just relying on teachers to train each other. It really is about building community within the system. Our teachers just don’t spend enough time talking about our profession.

Sure, we talk about issues in the campus or the latest gossip in the halls. Some even talk about students but how often do teachers talk about the profession itself. I think that within the conversations, the community is built and the sharing and training becomes more personal.

It helps to break the school out being a collection of one-room school houses and into a shared vision and community.