In total, 99 teachers, heads, school advisors and University professors participated at the seminar free of charge. The key dimensions, necessary prerequisites, and the significance of the school’s operation as a learning community were presented, along with the challenges that arise from the implementation of such an approach within the existing Greek institutional framework. Emphasis was placed on the critical role of inquiry and reflection as processes underpinning the effective operation of the school as a learning community. Indicative activities aimed at facilitating learning communities (WP3) were presented, with a specific focus on tools that enhance inquiry and reflective practice in the processes of addressing emerging issues and making informed decisions in schools. In the discussion organized after the presentations, the attendees expressed their thoughts and concerns regarding the implementation of inquiry and reflective practices in the light of the constrains imposed by the Greek institutional framework, challenges arising in decision-making within the teachers’ council, as well as the extent to which students are included in collective decision-making processes. Based on the evaluation of the webinar, participants were very satisfied since they commented the webinar as highly informative, greatly interesting and relevant to the participants’ expertise and expectations as well as inspirational regarding their future participation in the forthcoming hybrid (both face to face and online) International Conference, that is going to be held at the University of Teacher Education Vorarlberg (Feldkirch, Austria) on 27^th – 28^th April 2026, as well as the 3^rd webinar to be held by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) in May 2026.

Der Beitrag Webinar in Greece: Learning Communities in Action: The Role of Inquiry and Reflection 🇬🇷 erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.

The aims and results of the LEAFAP project were presented as well as the necessity of PLCs for students’ benefit and democratic decision making in schools. We focused on the conditions and the difficulties facing the creation and sustainability of PLCs as well as the role of the facilitators in enhancing communication, trust building, collaboration, knowledge building and research and reflection in the operation of a PLC. 

In the discussion organized after the presentations, the attendees showed a great interest in the LEAFAP project and asked various questions regarding its implementation. They also stressed the importance of institutional support systems to establish and maintain effective teacher networks. 

Based on the evaluation of the webinar, participants were very satisfied since they commented the webinar as highly informative, greatly interesting and relevant to the participants’ expertise and expectations, encouraging them in forming a PLC as well as inspirational regarding their future participation in the forthcoming barcamp, that is going to be held at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki hybrid (both face to face and online) on 9^th October 2024.

Der Beitrag 🇬🇷 News from our Project Partners in Greece erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.

We learned both, how beneficial student teachers see the PLC approach, but only after they have tried it out. Just hearing about it doesn’t make enough of a difference. Additionally, the question came up, how much leading into PLC practice is suitable when at the same time self-responsibility is one of the main characteristics of a PLC. It is a balance to find that can be supported by regular steps of self-reflection on the student teachers’ side and regular feedback towards the lecturers.

Somewhat different turned out the webinar with responsible persons of school authority, school heads and researchers. Their discussion after having heard the presentation of the project’s first results turned towards the difficulty to engage schools and the teaching staff into the particular way of PLC-collaboration against the current situation of personnel shortage and social challenges that schools are confronted with.

In an international panel with participants from Germany, Austria and Switzerland the situation in the different countries was discussed. It was agreed to carry on the discussion at the Barcamp in October 2024.

Der Beitrag Summary of the two first steps of the webinar series in German language by Austria & Germany 🇦🇹🇩🇪 erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.

On the 9^th of September 2024, at 18:00 until 19:30 we will discuss about professional learning communities (PLCs) in education in the context of an online seminar organized by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. We will define the characteristics of PLCs in education, focus on how the school can function as a learning community, and enlighten the appropriate challenges in such a collaborative process of enhancing professional learning and collective decision-making. We also identify the required knowledge, skills and attitudes of those who facilitate the initiation and sustainable development of PLCs and emphasize on teachers’ inquiry and reflection in the context of a PLC. Sufficient time will be given for discussion and exchange of views, offering us the opportunity to build our own community with those who are interested in supporting the collaborative and collective processes of exploring the issues we encounter at school and take collective actions to resolve them.

The link is:

https://authgr.zoom.us/my/sofia.avgitidou?pwd=THlMUFBsUUFWR0hqUjIwaGp3S0lIQT09

A certificate of participation will be given.

This seminar is based on a current research carried out in the framework of the Erasmus+ programme “Leading and Facilitating Professional Learning Communities in Schools towards an Inquiry-based and Reflective Practice – LEAFAP” https://www.leafap.eu/). Six European Universities and 2 Pedagogical Institutes participate in this project with funding from the European Union.

Πρόσκληση συμμετοχής σε δωρεάν webinar για τις επαγγελματικές κοινότητες μάθησης στην εκπαίδευση (θα δοθεί βεβαίωση συμμετοχής).

Στις 9 Σεπτεμβρίου 2024, στις 18:00 θα συζητήσουμε για τις επαγγελματικές κοινότητες μάθησης (ΕΚΜ) στην εκπαίδευση στο πλαίσιο ενός διαδικτυακού σεμιναρίου που διοργανώνει το Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης. Θα ορίσουμε τα χαρακτηριστικά των ΕΚΜ στην εκπαίδευση, θα εστιάσουμε στο πώς το σχολείο μπορεί να λειτουργήσει ως κοινότητα μάθησης και ποιες είναι οι προκλήσεις σε μία τέτοια συνεργατική διαδικασία ενίσχυσης της επαγγελματικής μάθησης και συλλογικής λήψης αποφάσεων. Εντοπίζουμε, επίσης, ποιες είναι οι απαιτούμενες γνώσεις, δεξιότητες και στάσεις αυτών που διευκολύνουν την έναρξη αλλά και τη βιώσιμη ανάπτυξη των ΕΚΜ και δίνουμε έμφαση στη διερεύνηση και στον αναστοχασμό των εκπαιδευτικών στο πλαίσιο μίας ΕΚΜ. Θα δοθεί επαρκής χρόνος για συζήτηση και ανταλλαγή απόψεων, δίνοντας μας την ευκαιρία να οργανώσουμε τη δική μας κοινότητα με όσους και όσες ενδιαφερόμαστε να υποστηρίξουμε τις συνεργατικές και συλλογικές διαδικασίες διερεύνησης των ζητημάτων που συναντούμε στο σχολείο και να αναλάβουμε συλλογικές δράσεις για την επίλυσή τους.

Ο σύνδεσμος είναι:

https://authgr.zoom.us/my/sofia.avgitidou?pwd=THlMUFBsUUFWR0hqUjIwaGp3S0lIQT09

Θα δοθεί βεβαίωση συμμετοχής.

Το σεμινάριο αυτό βασίζεται στην έρευνα που έχει διεξαχθεί στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος Erasmus+ “Η καθοδήγηση και διευκόλυνση Επαγγελματικών Κοινοτήτων Μάθησης σε σχολεία προς μια διερευνητική και αναστοχαστική πρακτική” (Leading and Facilitating Professional Learning Communities in Schools towards an Inquiry-based and Reflective Practice – LEAFAP https://www.leafap.eu/). Στο πρόγραμμα αυτό συμμετέχουν έξι Ευρωπαϊκά Πανεπιστήμια και 2 Παιδαγωγικά Ινστιτούτα με τη χρηματοδότηση της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης.

Der Beitrag Webinar Invitation from Our Project Partners in Greece! 🇬🇷 erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.

On May 30th, a webinar presenting the first results was held, with a group of 29 principals, middle leaders, teachers, and environment staff from a region in Trøndelag, Norway attending. During the webinar, the characteristics of Professional Learning Communities were presented, and the importance of leading inquiry and reflection in PLC groups was addressed. Time was set aside for joint reflections in smaller groups (breakout rooms), where the participants could relate what was presented to their own practice. The participants expressed that it had been meaningful and useful to participate in the webinar, especially because of the time used in the breakout rooms.

Der Beitrag Webinar in Norway: Highlights from the LeaFaP Erasmus+ Project 🇳🇴 erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.

Key highlights: 

Presentation of initial findings from the Erasmus+ research project LeaFaP. 

Discussions on how to integrate PLCs into teacher education programs. 

Experiences shared by students.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this valuable exchange! Let’s keep working together to enhance teacher education.

Der Beitrag News from Our Project Partners in Austria and Germany: Webinar on PLCs in Teacher Education 🇦🇹🇩🇪 erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.

#plc #aristoteliopanepistimiothessalonikis  #europeanuniversitycyprus  #webinar #leafap #erasmusplus    

Der Beitrag News from our project partners in Cyprus and Greece: Webinar on Professional Learning Communities in May 2024🇬🇷🇨🇾 erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.

Τίτλος: Επαγγελματικές Κοινότητες Μάθησης ως μέσο επαγγελματικής ανάπτυξης εκπαιδευτικών: Ευρωπαϊκή προοπτική και καλές πρακτικές από διάφορες χώρες της Ευρώπης

Ομιλητής: Λουκάς Λουκά, Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Επιστημών Αγωγής

Περίληψη: Στο webinar θα συζητήσουμε την ιδέα των επαγγελματικών κοινοτήτων μάθησης (ΕΚΜ) ως μεθοδολογία επαγγελματικής μάθησης στον τομέα της εκπαίδευσης. Αντλώντας γνώση από ένα αριθμό χωρών στην Ευρώπη στις οποίες οι ΕΚΜ έχουν υιοθετηθεί εδώ και αρκετό καιρό, και αναστοχαζόμενοι με βάση τη σύγχρονη βιβλιογραφία για το θέμα, θα επαναπροσδιορίσουμε την ιδέα των επαγγελματικών κοινοτήτων μάθησης, θα επισημάνουμε τα είδη τους, θα αναφερθούμε στα χαρακτηριστικά που τις καθιστούν επιτυχείς, και θα μιλήσουμε για το ρόλο των συντονιστών και των υποστηρικτών. Επιπρόσθετα θα συζητήσουμε τις διάφορες προκλήσεις σε σχέση με την ομαλή λειτουργία των ΕΚΜ και θα εστιάσουμε στην ιδέα του αναστοχασμού και της διερεύνησης ως σημαντικά εργαλεία λειτουργίας των ΕΚΜ.

Το webinar αποτελεί μέρος του ερευνητικού προγράμματος LeaFaP: Leading and Facilitating Professional Learning Communities in Schools towards an Inquiry-based and Reflective Practice. 

https://www.leafap.eu

Το διαδικτυακό σεμινάριο ενδιαφέρει μέλη διευθυντικών ομάδων σχολικών μονάδων και εκπαιδευτικούς που λαμβάνουν μέρος σε επαγγελματικές κοινότητες μάθησης.

Για εγγραφή: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/393/44317cq1

Περισσότερες πληροφορίες: https://euc.ac.cy/el/events/professional-learning-communities-webinar-apr24/

Θα δοθεί πιστοποιητικό συμμετοχής.

Webinar, 29 May 2024, 18:00

Title: Professional Learning Communities as a means of teacher professional development: European perspective and good practices from different European countries

Speaker: Loucas Loucas, Professor, Department of Educational Sciences

Summary: In the webinar we will discuss the idea of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) as a professional learning methodology in the field of education. Drawing knowledge from a number of countries in Europe where PLCs have been adopted for some time, and reflecting on the contemporary literature on the subject, we will redefine the idea of PLCs, highlight their types, address the characteristics that make them successful, and we talk about the role of facilitators and supporters. In addition, we will discuss the various challenges in relation to the smooth functioning of PLCs and focus on the idea of reflection and inquiry as important tools for the operation of PLCs.

The webinar is part of the research project LeaFaP: Leading and Facilitating Professional Learning Communities in Schools towards an Inquiry-based and Reflective Practice.

https://www.leafap.eu

The webinar is of interest to members of school leadership teams and teachers participating in professional learning communities.

To register: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/393/44317cq1

More information: https://euc.ac.cy/el/events/professional-learning-communities-webinar-apr24/

A certificate of participation will be provided.

Der Beitrag For quick decision makers: Webinar on PLCs for teachers from Cyprus and Greece (held in Greek) 🇨🇾🇪🇸 erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.

Dette er det første av tre seminarer der vi deler kunnskap og resultater fra Erasmus+ prosjektet LeaFaP, Leading and Facilitating Professional Learning Communities in Schools towards an Inquiry-based and Reflective Practice

Seminar 1 vil foregå:

30. mai 2024, kl. 09 – 10.30

Seminarets innhold:

·  Bestigelser og hindringer for å lykkes i å utvikle profesjonelle læringsfellesskap

·  Innspill til hva som er viktig i rollen til ledere og fasilitator for møter der profesjonell utvikling

·  Metoder og verktøy for å utvikle profesjonelle læringsfellesskap

Påmeldingsfrist senest 29. mai

Send en e-post til anne.emstad@ntnu.no, så vil du få tilsendt zoomlenke på morgenen 30. mai.

Vi ser frem til din deltakelse på dette første seminaret i en rekke på tre.

Med hilsen

Bård Knutsen og Anne Berit Emstad

Institutt for lærerutdanning

NTNU

——————————————————————————————————————————————

We would like to invite employees in schools who are responsible for leading or facilitating professional learning communities in schools.

This is the first of three seminars where we share knowledge and results from the Erasmus+ project LeaFaP, Leading and Facilitating Professional Learning Communities in Schools towards an Inquiry-based and Reflective Practice

Seminar 1 will take place:

30 May 2024, at 09 – 10.30

Seminar content:

· Climbs and obstacles to succeed in developing professional learning communities

· Input on what is important in the role of leader and facilitator for meetings where professional development

· Methods and tools for developing professional learning communities

NOTE: The online seminar is held in Norwegian!

Registration deadline no later than 29 May

Send an e-mail to anne.emstad@ntnu.no, and you will be sent a zoom link on the morning of 30^st May.

We look forward to your participation in this first seminar in a series of three.

With regards

Bård Knutsen and Anne Berit Emstad

Institute for Teacher Education

NTNU

Der Beitrag News from our project partners in Norway: Webinar on Professional Learning Communities in May 2024 🇳🇴 erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.

Participants were given opportunities for group reflection, exchange, and dialogue on PLC and teamwork support. The seminar was attended by students from education bachelor and master programs at UMA, as well as professors from the faculties of education at three universities (University of Granada, University Isabel I, and UMA).

Feedback from the evaluation survey indicated high satisfaction with the seminar content and exchange.

#LeaFaP #ErasmusPlus #UMA #ProfessionalLearningCommunities #Education #Teamwork

Der Beitrag News from our project partners in Spain 🇪🇸 erschien zuerst auf LEAFP - Leading and Facilitating PLC in Schools.