This week, I was invited to teacher Lu’s English class , due to she will have a Public Lecture by next month, she has being executing the teaching method of “Learning Community” for couple of months .She also invited other teachers and students to her class to make better improvement. I divided three parts in this review of the topic Learning Community, Teacher,Student and conclusion which included theory,examples and reflection.
Teacher:
The purpose of Public Lecture is that teachers have opportunities to learn from each other effectively through examining, observing the class, after-discussions and feedback reviews. They may find out the problems and make modifications on their teaching materials, methods and class management. On the other hand, The Public Lecture emphasizes the importance of students’ learning outcomes and interaction with teachers. In the meanwhile, teachers are capable of making arrangements for continuing professional development in their specialties. Therefore, it is perfectly related to our previous topic and concept, Professional Learning Community (PLC) refers to Sato Manabu’s Learning Community. To the same purpose and vision, teachers gather to learn together, share expertise, and work collaboratively to improve their teaching skills and the academic performance of their students (Sato, 1999).
Before starting a public lecture, teachers suppose to be experts in groups by professional subject to analyze and study what they teach ,what students should learn or to predict any unexpected situations. The process of public lecture scheme (analysis) are Preparing class→Public Lecture→Discussions.
1. Preparing class:
Teachers work together in their mutual subject or student’s grade (age) to arrange specific curriculum, activities and set learning standard, evaluations.
2. Public Lecture:
Teachers, professors, experts are invited in lecture. The process of lecturing also demands to be videotaped and recorded.
3. Discussions:
Teachers, professors, experts involve in providing suggestions and evaluations to the teacher who lectures.
Student:
What I learned and observed from teacher Lu’s English class is divided to three points and also given examples. 1. Collaborative Learning 2. Listening 3. Jumping 4. Sharing and Presenting. As I mentioned theory previously, She models her teaching after the concept of learning community.
1.Collaborative Learning:
Students are equal to each other, they learn from each other. For example, teacher Lu grouped her students into 3, and also seated by different genders. When the teacher gives questions or quiz to students during lecturing, they are immediately involved in class activities with their partners.
2. Listening:
As one student questions or presents, we respect and listen to his/her opinion patiently regardless of wrong answers. Therefore, the arrangement of seat is required in several groups or along the line of V, face to blackboard.
3.Jumping:
This is the most interesting and challenging part in a lecture, students stimulate their thoughts and jump their ideas beside materials through associations or brainstorming. For example, October is the Halloween month in most of western countries, but in Asia we don’t celebrate much, we have ghost month in lunar July. Therefore, students start to have discussions connecting to the topic in English.
4.Sharing and Presenting:
Students are given opportunities to sharing opinions by group brainstorming during class. Teacher offers feedbacks and concludes the main points from today’s topic, Halloween.
Student is presenting during class , and others are listening.
English Context , topic : Halloween.
Seat arrangement model, work in pairs.
Conclusion
.Learning is in the way to communicate and connect to one person, others, even the society and the world. I agree with Sato Manabu’s theory,school as learning community,learning as a practice in Dialogue.We learn from each other and grow together. I appreciated that they give me this chance to engage in this English class and workshop which related to Learning Community. In this impressive experience, I learned so much.
Books & Links Recommended :
黃郁倫、鍾啟泉（譯）（2012）。 學習的革命：從教室出發的改革。（佐藤 學）。台北，天下雜誌。
The Global Search for Education: Japan (C. M. Rubin). Retrieve from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c-m-rubin/the-global-search-for-edu_b_3943658.html
Related articles
- Professional Learning Communities (eduflow.wordpress.com)
- Photo: What Should A Professional Learning Community Discussion Look Like, Sound Like, Feel Like? (larryferlazzo.edublogs.org)
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