Professional learning approach built on four teacher-learning themes: experience, reflection, dialogue, and context¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The M-PLANS professional learning approach incorporates four themes from contemporary perspectives on teacher learning: first-hand experience as foundational; thoughtful reflection involving planning, monitoring, and reflecting; dialogue with colleagues to develop common understanding; and the shaping role of teachers' work context. Organized around these themes, teachers engage in collaboration, enactment, and reflection focused on designing lessons with motivationally supportive strategies appropriate to their contexts.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• An initial professional learning institute plus ongoing school-year support via a professional learning community that promotes collective inquiry and reflective dialogue.

Constraints¶

• Professional learning is shaped in important ways by the context in which teachers work.

Target Learners¶

• Middle school science teachers

Target Learning Goals¶

• Teachers' knowledge and capability to select and implement timely, flexible, responsive instructional strategies

Related Strategies¶

• M Plans Program Element
• Reflective Practice

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Harris, C.J., Schmidt, J.A., Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., Marchand, G.C., Cabrera, L., McKinney, D., & Liu, P. (2023). Equipping science teachers to support student motivation in NGSS classrooms: Insights from the Development of the M-PLANS program. San Francisco, CA: WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED638504