STUDY GROUPS

Introduction

The NWP Teacher Center is committed to helping educators engage in continuous inquiry and reflection about their work and the work of their students. The Teacher Center feels that by asking essential questions about how students learn, by investigating what strategies and practices are effective, and by learning about new information, knowledge and research that informs the field, teachers can become more skilled practitioners and students can become more engaged learners.

We believe that through collegial groups and open discussion, such inquiry and reflection can become embedded in the daily lives of schools

WHAT IS A STUDY GROUP?

A Study Group is a small group of professional colleagues and other school-related personnel from members of the NWP Teacher Center consortium who come together to examine, research and discuss a topic of shared interest in order to improve their practice and the learning of their students and/or the effectiveness of their school. The study itself should be teacher-driven.

WHO PARTICIPATES IN A STUDY GROUP?

Teachers and other professionals engaged in schooling may participate in a Study Group. Participation is volitional; but once the group is formed, attendance is mandatory. The group may include colleagues from a single school district or across districts, depending on interest in the essential question or topic. The size of the group should be no fewer than five individuals and no greater than twelve.

A facilitator is included as an essential part of a Study Group. The facilitator must have received training in facilitation skills and be approved by the district granting in-service credit and the Teacher Center.

HOW IS A TOPIC CHOSEN FOR THE STUDY GROUP?

Topics or questions for a Study Group should be teacher-driven, topics of vital interest to the individual in terms of understanding and improving their practice. The Study Group will articulate a goal and decide, with facilitation, a means by which to work towards meeting that goal. Examples of Study Group topics include reviewing and trying out new instructional strategies, designing or elaborating upon units, developing school improvement measures, looking at multiple assessments, etc.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

After identifying a topic of common interest, the Study Group should develop an Action Plan to assist in the process. The plan should consist of identifying needed resources and designing the group’s learning experience. It should include a description of means of implementation as well as a means of evaluating the outcomes of the study. It is to outline the goals and procedures for the rest of the Study Group sessions.

The Action Plan may include reviewing literature and research, attending lectures or classes, collecting data about student performance, examining student work, gathering statistics about school performance and/or instructional approaches and materials, etc.

The work of the Study Group should result in some sort of product such as a descriptive piece about things learned, recommendations for new approaches to instruction, statements of how learnings were implemented in classrooms or in the school, and how collegial study contributed to the professional growth of teachers.

WHEN AND WHERE DOES A STUDY GROUP MEET?

A Study Group should meet between 1 ½ and 2 hours on a regular (weekly or biweekly) basis for a maximum of fifteen hours. The group should meet after school when there are no distractions from the work at hand.
The specific time and schedule should be decided upon by the group itself. The group chooses its own meeting place.

WHAT DOES THE FACILITATOR DO?

An approved trained facilitator will guide the Study Group throughout each session. The facilitator needs to encourage curiosity, open-mindedness to new information and multiple perspectives on the part of the participants. The facilitator maintains an impartial stance during the discussion, but helps individuals stay on task, be courteous, and listen to one another.

The facilitator helps establish ground rules for the sessions. These rules are meant to advance the study and subsequent discussions.

The facilitator is also responsible for record keeping (attendance, log, Action Plan, and final reporting).

WHAT WILL THE NWP TEACHER CENTER PROVIDE TO A STUDY GROUP?

The teacher center will pay the facilitator $40.00 per hour. The facilitator must be approved by the Teacher Center and their local district.

IN WHAT WAYS IS THE STUDY GROUP RESPONSIBLE TO THE NWP TEACHER CENTER?

The Teacher Center requires that:

attendance be documented;

a log of each session be maintained,

an Action Plan be developed,

evaluation of the process and product be conducted, and

a final report be written and submitted to the Teacher Center in a timely manner.

The facilitator is reponsible for:

keeping track of attendance;

and for logging each session for the NWP Teacher Center.

Individuals will maintain reflection sheets for their own personal/professional use.

Members of the group are responsible for evaluating how the study affected their practice and if it had an impact on student learning or on the culture of the school.

The final report is due three weeks after the completion of the Study Group of by May 15th of the school year whichever comes first.

HOW CAN WE FORM A NWP TEACHER CENTER STUDY GROUP?

Applications will be submitted to the Local Staff Development Team in their building/district for approval, followed by teacher center contact and implementation. Go to the Teacher Center web site to down load information and application form.

NOTE:

· For information about other teacher center Study Group programs, check the Internet

http://www.tier.net.bct or teacher_center @wsboces.org

· Visit our web site for information about the teacher center and a list of member districts