Understanding the desired outcome of a meeting is key to teachers knowing the participatory behaviors that are most productive. Everything being called a PLC interferes with participants being able to focus on the educator learning in true PLCs that leads to increased student success. In professional learning communities, purposeful teacher learning around how to increase student achievement is the focus. Teachers are collaboratively asking, "What do the students need us to learn?"

Listen to the podcast on PLCs with Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey here.

Find Chris Jensen's guest blog, "Teaming and Workflow" here.

Read the Finland Study, "PLC Characteristics" here.

Read Zachary Herrmann's article, "Cooperate or Collaborate" here.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!