Using professional learning cycles to strengthen implementation

Abstract

Professional learning cycles offer more support for changing teaching practice than isolated, one-off professional learning sessions. They’re a core strategy in a deliberate and structured approach to implementation.

This practice guide is informed by research on implementation strategies and effective professional learning, as well as AERO’s work with schools through the Learning Partner project. It:

• details what professional learning cycles involve and why they’re important
• outlines practical steps for getting ready for, running and reviewing professional learning cycles
• provides practical tips for addressing challenges your school may encounter when carrying out professional learning cycles.

This practice guide is part of a set of practical resources for implementation teams using professional learning cycles, including:

• a video on using professional learning cycles at Maffra Secondary College, which shares a school implementation team’s experiences with embedding explicit instruction
• a set of explicit instruction knowledge-building modules, which provide exemplars of how to structure a knowledge-building session
• a set of modelling and coaching checklists aligned to the explicit instruction modules, which provide exemplar lists of observable behaviours that can be used to guide modelling and coaching conversations. 

Keywords: evidence-based education, professional development, teacher development