Virtual PLCs at Work: A Guide to Effectively Implementing Online and Hybrid Teaching and Learning

Virtual teaming and virtual learning have been practiced for decades but never to the level required today. As the educational landscape continues to evolve, ensure your PLC evolves right along with it. With this resource from Paul C. Farmer and Dennis King as your guide, you'll explore an abundance of tools and tips for maintaining your PLC structures along with proven best practices to help instruction and learning thrive beyond the four walls of your school.

A book on implementing online professional learning communities for teachers and administrators:

• Receive an overview of the PLC process and understand how all educators fit into it.
• Learn how to implement each step of the PLC process virtually.
• Address the four pillars of a PLC--mission, vision, values, and goals--in a virtual context.
• Develop and maintain an ideal school culture in a virtual environment with online teacher communities.
• Acquire strategies to strengthen every student's virtual or blended learning experience with the PLC process.

Contents: <BR>Foreword by Mike Mattos <BR>Introduction: An Unprecedented Shift in Teaching and Learning <BR>Chapter 1: The Three Big Ideas <BR>Chapter 2: The Foundational Elements <BR>Chapter 3: Creation and Maintenance of School Culture in a Virtual Environment <BR>Chapter 4: Teacher Collaboration in a Virtual PLC <BR>Chapter 5: Assessment, Intervention, and Enrichment in a Virtual PLC <BR>Chapter 6: Leadership in a Virtual Environment <BR>Epilogue <BR>Appendix <BR>References and Resources

<p><b>Paul C. Farmer</b> has worked in public education for over thirty-five years. He started his education career teaching autobody in Montgomery County Public Schools of Maryland. He has held multiple leadership roles, including department chair, teacher specialist in career and technology education, assistant principal, principal, and project director of instructional technology integration. He retired from public education in Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. Paul was the principal of Joyce Kilmer Middle School, one of the first schools in Fairfax County to build and sustain the Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Work model. Kilmer was one of fifty schools in the United States recognized by Standard and Poor’s School Evaluation Services for narrowing the achievement gap between economically disadvantaged students and the general population. Paul now leads professional development focused on creating and sustaining PLCs at Work and Response to Intervention at Work for teachers, school administrators, and district administrators throughout the United States and Canada. He has coauthored <i>Collaboration for Career and Technical Education: Teamwork Beyond the Core Content Areas in a PLC at Work®</i>, <i>How to Help Your School Thrive Without Breaking the Bank</i>, and <i>Dealing With the Tough Stuff: Practical Solutions for School Administrators</i>.</p> <p><b>Dennis King, EdD,</b> has focused on school improvement throughout his career, first as a practicing school administrator and now as an educational presenter. His experience as a high school science teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, executive director, and assistant superintendent for school improvement created the foundation for his becoming a Solution Tree associate supporting professional learning communities, formative assessment, and response to intervention.</p> <p>Since 2003, Dennis has worked with hundreds of schools across the United States to strengthen their school-improvement processes and supply research-based strategies that support students during their learning. In addition to working as a presenter, he is an assistant professor at Baker University in Overland Park, Kansas, in the educational leadership program for aspiring district leaders.</p> <p>To book Paul C. Farmer or Dennis King for professional development, contact pd@SolutionTree.com.</p>