AISI at QE A Year in Review

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Our PLC Journey at QE so far2007- 2009 Overview

• Compiled by A. Smyth
• September 15th, 2009

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What is AISI again?
With thanks to Mary Losowy for the photography
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AISI Project Information

• Alberta Initiative for School Improvement
• To improve student learning and performance
  by fostering initiatives that reflect the unique
  needs and circumstances within school
  jurisdictions.

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Alberta Education ? Calgary Board of
Education Students come first Learning is our
central purpose Public education serves the
common good ?
Secondary Review
3 Year Education Plan
Richard Elmore
System
Instructional Core
Personalization of Learning
Area
School Development Plans
School
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• QEs Classical
• PLC Theory

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QEs AISI Project- 2006- 2009

• Assessment
• Of and For Learning

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Assessment Of Learning

• For what purpose?
• Purpose is summative
• Signals students relative position compared to
  other students
• Results are expressed as marks or letter grades
• When? Done at the end of something- i.e. a
  unit, a course, a grade, a program
• How? Often a test format based on material
  covered
• Why? Intended to certify learning and report to
  parents and students about students progress in
  school

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Assessment For Learning

• For what purpose?
• Formative assessment
• Provides feedback to further student learning
• When? Happens repeatedly during learning
• How?
• Collect a wide range of data
• Interactive
• Variety of types of assessment such as student
  self-assessment, peer assessment, clear targets
  and student involvement in their learning
• Why? Informs next stage of instruction and its
  design
• Marking highlights strengths and areas of growth
  for individual students

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THEMES

• Common formative assessment
• Shared language of assessment
• Using technology formatively in the classroom
• Self- assessment/ self- reflection
• Co- creating and use of common rubrics/
  checklists
• Peer Assessment/ editing
• Exemplar Banks
• Transition
• Skills ladder
• Exit interviews/ portfolios
• Taking initiative for learning

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Story time

• Share some
• QEHS successes!

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What is a PLC?

• Where groups of people sit down with student
  data to plan the next course of action. The PLC
  members establish a common course of action and
  implement it. We then re-assess to see if we made
  a difference, look at student work, tweak our
  strategy and re-implement. It is an ongoing
  cycle (S. Young, Sept. 2009).

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At QE

• There were 23 Professional Learning Communities
  (PLCs) at QE High School in 2007- 2009
• These were formed from Curriculum teams
• Interest based data driven
• Ranged in size from 1- 7 members each

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Important Considerations

• PLCs are a system expectation. They are the
  vehicle through which we will do our work at QE.
• Huge system support- Curriculum Learning
  Technologies (CLT), Area II staff, LLs
• Job- embedded professional development

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An effective PLC will

• Advance student learning
• Have a thoughtful, intentional focus
• Be inquiry and action based
• Our action is driven by the evidence in looking
  at student work
• Collect evidence- artifacts, performance
  assessments, observations, the numbers, ask the
  kids!
• This is job-embedded in our day to day work

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SMART Goals
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SMART goals are

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Results-based
• Timely

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• Modern PLC Theory at QE- Personalization of
  Learning

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The Dream

• That students will be so engaged that time
  itself seems to disappear.
• Chief Superintendent of Schools Naomi Johnson
• System Opening Address- Sept 9/09

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Essential Question

• How do we
• personalize learning?

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Some Key Concepts

• Appreciative Inquiry (Cooperrider)
• What are we doing well and what can we build on?
• What do we want to get better at?
• What needs do we see that we can work to meet?
• Multiple points of entry
• Based on evidence from student work

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Next steps at QE

• Lots of conversation!
• How will we define personalization of learning at
  QE?
• How do we engage students?
• How will we capture our work and gauge the impact
  on the students learning?
• What are we constantly moving towards
• What will PLCs look like for this year?
• PD Day exploration
• Re-set PLCs

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• Where do we store our documents?

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D2L- Assessment Shell
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AISI page- School Website
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QE Newsletter
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Where does our AISI Learning Leader fit in?
An extra pair of hands!

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In general

• Provide support to the principal and staff of QE
  in the implementation and development of PLCs and
  in meeting School Development Plan goals
• Provide training and coaching of PLC members
• Attend and facilitate meetings with PLC members
• Assist in exploration of evidence and capturing
  of the work
• Assist in handling of documents around PLCs and
  AISI documents and reports

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More specifically

• How I can help you
• Work together to develop tools and strategies
  related to your PLC work and/or your classroom
  work- PLS to support this
• Team teaching in trying some new strategies
• If you feel comfortable, make some observations
  and give feedback in your classroom
• Search out resources for you
• And much more! Just ask?

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What are we doing as a school to support this
work?

• Monthly PLC meeting time
• PD Time dedicated to PLC work
• PLS available for sub release time to
• Work together as PLCs, Curriculum teams and
  teachers
• Work with Aileen
• Observe other classes

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A final question

• What are the opportunities that
• each of us can create
• for learning?

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