Dissertation for
David A. Sam
Michigan State University
THE JOURNEY INTO COMMUNITY: THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY IN ONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Within the conceptual framework of the Learning Organization, this qualitative case study explored how faculty members at one Midwestern community college described their experiences as participants in several Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). The objective of the study was to assist in understanding how various individual, group, and organizational actions and characteristics may foster or obstruct the development of PLCs in community colleges. A Professional Learning Community refers to a specific kind of knowledge community or community of practice which has learning or knowledge creation as a goal intimately connected to the organization’s purpose of teaching and learning. There follows a categorization of those strategies, actions, and characteristics of individual faculty members, departments, groups/teams, leaders, and the overall organization that may foster or serve as barriers to the development of PLCs at that college. The study concludes with some general conclusions regarding the PLC and organizational change, recommendations for practitioners who seek to foster PLCs, and recommendations for further research into PLCs.
A brief summary is available by clicking here.