Reading Reflection # 2

Caryn Hay

EDT 3470

2-3-12

Reflection # 2

            This chapter focused on learning communities. Learning communities started in the business world around the 90s. This gave these business workers the opportunity to work with one another to accomplish projects. People began to wonder how this would transfer over into the education world. We push the effects of our students working together all time. Children can learn how to communicate and develop skills that are helpful in the real world. This is where many teachers got the idea that teachers should begin to work in learning communities. Teachers often work together when it comes to the “housekeeping” issues for the school such as, scheduling and planning school events, and then they are usually on their own when it comes to the classroom. This is where the idea of learning communities would benefit teachers comes into play, they could learn to work in small groups and brainstorm about planning lessons, and have the chance to give each other feedback on each of their ideas. I think it is great to be able to work with other colleagues, because it only leaves room for the lessons and ideas to improve. I have always been told “two heads is better than one” and I believe that is true.

Teachers should never be afraid to ask for some feedback, and collaborating together benefits the students as well. Some of the benefits include, decreased teacher isolation, increased commitment, shared responsibility, and more of a powerful learning takes place. This idea would be totally something I would use within my own classroom, and it is exactly what we are doing in class with our projects. We are put into groups and are going to be forced to think like teachers and try to create lessons that benefit students. It is great practice for us to practice giving feedback and taking feedback for the future.