Teacher Collaboration for Professional Learning: Facilitating Study, Research, and Inquiry Communities [Paperback]

Teacher Collaboration for Professional Learning contains the essential information, tools, and examples teachers and school leaders need to create, manage, and sustain successful collaborative groups. Designed to be a hands-on resource, this practical guide shows you how to:

• Advocate for collaborative teacher learning
• Develop and sustain collaborative research groups
• Organize and conduct productive research projects
• Address issues of ethics, leadership, and group dynamics
• Evaluate and sustain collaborative learning activities

Based on data from a major survey, Teacher Collaboration for Professional Learning features extensive case examples from model research communities collaborating within schools, across districts, in partnership with universities, and as online networks. The book also offers a wealth of reproducible templates as well as reflection questions and exercises?invaluable tools for organizing study groups.

List of Figures, Tables, and Exhibits v

Foreword by Janice F. Almasi vii

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xiii

The Authors xv

The Contributors xvii

Part 1 Why Support Collaborative Research? 1

Chapter 1 Improving Teacher Professional Learning 3

Chapter 2 Initiating Educational Improvements 13

Part 2 Building a Professional Learning Community 27

Chapter 3 Understanding the Inquiry Process 29

Chapter 4 Getting Started 39

Chapter 5 Staying Productive 65

Part 3 Collaborating Effectively 75

Chapter 6 Ethical Considerations: Improving Group Dynamics 77<l#2