1. Scaling Effective Practices: The Power of Professional Learning
Frederick Brown
@fbrownLF
Learning Forward
Washoe County School District
Reno, NV
February 2, 2019

2. Getting beyond the surface:
Beatrice Esurance Video

3. Outcomes for our Conversation
Consider the sustained “changes in practice” desired as a result of the equity discussions and explore professional learning strategies needed to achieve them...at scale.
Outcomes for our Conversation

4. Communities of practice provide a concrete organizational infrastructure for realizing the dream of a learning organization.
Wenger, Etienne; McDermott, Richard A.; Snyder, William (2002).
Cultivating Communities of Practice: A Guide to Managing Knowledge.
Harvard Business Review Press.

5. Half a box of sand…

6. Defining a problem of practice
A problem of practice is a persistent, contextualized, and specific issue embedded in the work of a professional practitioner, the addressing of which has the potential to result in improved understanding, experience, and outcomes.
Wenger, Etienne; McDermott, Richard A.; Snyder, William ( ). Cultivating Communities of Practice.

7. Attitude Skill Aspiration Behavior Knowledge
Conceptual understanding of information, theories, principles, and research
Attitude
Beliefs/biases about the value of particular information/strategies or abilities of individuals
Skill
Strategies and processes to apply knowledge
Aspiration
Desires, or internal motivation, to engage in a particular practice
Behavior
Consistent application of knowledge and skills
1:00 – 2:30

8. Participant Reactions
Guskey’s Five Levels
Participant Reactions
Participant Learning
Organization Change
Participant Use
Student Learning
Any
Thomas
Guskey
Fans?

9. Let’s consider a equity “problem of practice”
Theory of Change Questions: Complete as an Individual
What is the current situation we intend to impact through our equity problem of practice?
What will it look like when we achieve the desired results?
What do we need to learn to achieve it?
What behaviors need to change for our goal to be achieved?
How will we differentiate our work to meet the various learning needs?
How would we monitor our progress and follow through to ensure success?
How will we measure our effectiveness?

10. Tuning/Consultancy Protocol
Process:
(15 minutes) Each person at the table shares an equity-oriented or professional learning situation they would like to see change in their school/work setting that would move closer to equitable and/or effective adult practices.
(15 minutes) Table groups choose one problem on which to focus.
(15 minutes) The individual with the representative problem (Presenter) will have approximately 10 minutes to:
Clearly articulate a goal or “desired state” that provides a picture of how a solution to this problem might look (e.g., all teachers at grade three will be using a new instructional strategy with fidelity, all unit personnel will actively reflect on how their biases impact their interactions with students, etc.).
Share two or three strategies, processes, he/she much accomplish in order to achieve the goal. What must be learned/accomplished first? Second? Etc.
(5 minutes) Listeners will ask clarifying questions.
(15 minutes) The Presenter will turn away from the listeners and take notes through the conversation. The facilitator will guide the listeners to share their reflections on the presenter’s design, give warm and cool feedback, and add ideas that may help the Presenter develop deeper precision in his/her work to accomplish the goal. The conversation should include some key ideas from the discussions today.
(5 minutes) The Presenter will reflect on the conversation and share his/her commitment to revise their plan and take action.

11. Debriefing the Protocol
What worked well?
Which aspects got in the way of your learning?
How might you modify this protocol for use in your setting?

12. As you consider today’s conversations and the work you’ve done to advance equitable practices:
What questions/wonderings do you have?
What concerns you?
What do you need to learn?
What would help create the conditions for your learning?

13. I hope you leave today with some new ideas…
G.E. Ideas Video

14. Thank you! Frederick Brown: frederick.brown@learningforward.org
@fbrownLF