All professions recognize that much useful and effective learning takes place on the job. This goes for both beginning and experienced practitioners. Professional schools acknowledge the importance of learning by doing in their practicums, internships, and co-ops.
Understanding is the goal of teaching and learning.
By creating learning communities, teaching and learning can take place in an effective way for all children. Teaching and learning for everybody's children is the primary goal. Thoughtful long-term inquiry into teaching and learning is the central aspect of Professional Practice Schools. A distinctive feature of Professional Practice Schools are Professional Teams composed of Lead Teachers, Career Teachers, and Student Interns who share instructional responsibility for clusters of classrooms or teaching loads. Career Teachers teach full time on the team and mentor interns as instructional colleagues.