Teaming Up to Learn about Assessment
Learning Team Defined
A learning team is not simply a group of individuals who get together periodically to talk about what is happening. Nor is it a book club that gathers to discuss what an author said. Rather, it is a small group of professionals who agree to experiment with new ideas and meet regularly for a specific period of time to share a specific professional growth experience guided by specific goals or purposes.
In our case, the goal is to acquire classroom assessment competencies. Learning team meetings are times for sharing lessons learned in the classroom, not just those derived from reading a textbook; a time to share successes and discuss strategies that worked, as well as to share difficulties, determine why they arose, and find solutions. In short, a learning team provides a forum for learning, planning, testing ideas, and reflecting together.
Why Learning Teams?
Professional Development in classroom assessment must build a deep understanding of the difference between sound and unsound assessment and of how to use assessment as a teaching tool. Because of the complexity of what is to be learned, we all must conceive of professional development as more than a series of workshops. Rather, it must achieve the following:
· Provide for the infusion of new ideas
· Offer the opportunity for learners to experiment with those ideas
· Encourage the pooling of ideas and experience to solve assessment challenges
· Deliver benefits in student motivation and achievement quickly
· Be flexible enough to fit into diverse and busy schedules
Learning teams provide this kind of professional development because they rely on the powerful principles of collaborative learning. Learning teams also model the kind of learning environment that should exist in every classroom, wherein learners:
· Begin learning with a sense of what they already know
· Learn at their own individual rates
· Take the risk of trying new ideas
· Monitor their successes
· Maintain records of their improving competence and confidence
· Feel a sense of personal accomplishment as they grow
In short, learning teams honor the professionalism of educators.
Learning Team Composition
There are many ways to organize learning teams. Teams usually consist of three to six teachers, administrators, or ideally, both. With more than six people, it becomes more difficult to arrange meeting times and allow time for each member to explore their experiences with the others. The smaller the group, the more likely that each member will take responsibility for making the team succeed. There are many configurations for learning teams. One will certainly fit your needs.
For more information, contact Chris Olszewski at the Golden Triangle Curriculum Cooperative. coop@gtccmt.org or (406) 434-2745.
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