They support one another in a common endeavor that of finding better ways to teach young people what they need to know today and instill in them the learning skills and habits they will need for the rest of their lives. A school that is a professional learning community has a culture unlike schools of the past. The creation and maintenance of this culture is the foundation for change and improvement. An organization s culture rests upon attitudes, values and habits of mind that can take a long time to develop and internalize. Finally, participants will begin the planning process that will initiate the creation of a professional learning community in their own schools.
Interdependence produces better results.
Educators accept their responsibility to work collectively for the common good and improvement of the whole instead of simply striving to get ahead as individuals. Although individual growth is essential for organizational growth to occur, it does not guarantee organizational growth. Building a school s capacity to learn is a collaborative rather than individual task. Collaborative inquiry enables team members to develop new skills and capabilities, which in turn lead to new experiences. Ultimately this heightened awareness enables team members to view the world differently and make significant changes in their school culture.