Professional Learning in Effective Schools: The Seven Principles of Highly Effective Professional Learning

1 Foreword A central part of the practice of improvement should be to make the connection between teaching practice and student learning more direct and clear. The present generation of students deserve the best practice we can give them and their learning should not be mortgaged against the probability that something good will happen for future generations. Improvement should be focused directly on the classroom experience of today's students (Bridging the Gap Between Standards and Achievement: The success of the Government's Blueprint reform agenda for the Victorian government education system rests ultimately with our teachers and educational leaders. If we are to realise continuous improvement in the quality of teaching and learning in our classrooms, schools and system we must build the capacity of our educators to meet these expectations. This will require more than simply allocating additional resources for professional development programs. It will require us to understand what teachers must know and do to improve student learning. Most importantly, we need a model of learning that informs all the opportunities provided for teachers to engage in the improvement of their practice over time. Professional Learning in Effective Schools outlines a vision for professional learning in Victorian government schools. It unpacks the seven principles of highly effective professional learning, which were identified by the Department of Education & Training in 2004, and describes the conditions that support the implementation of the Principles. The paper will be used to inform the design of teacher learning initiatives at all levels of the system – school, network, region and centre. As a school system, we have a shared responsibility to improve student learning outcomes. We also have a reciprocal responsibility to provide teachers with extended opportunities to build on what they already know about effective learning and teaching. I hope that the seven principles of highly effective professional learning discussed in this paper inform and enrich conversations in your school community about the importance of providing quality learning opportunities for all teachers. Foreword Professional learning in effective schools: The seven principles of highly effective professional learning 2 Introduction Teaching is complex and demanding work that requires highly specialised skills and knowledge to impact significantly on student learning. Improving the learning outcomes of all students regardless of their socioeconomic background or geographic location is the Victorian Government's key objective for education. This objective is embedded in the Blueprint for Government Schools (Department of …