Learning Communities in Schools

Teachers discuss during a learning activity

Usually, in many workplaces, the workers work in isolation leading to a competitive culture in which they reluctantly share their strengths and fear admitting weaknesses. However, the learning communities if formed there may provide time and opportunities for the workers to develop collaboration and share freely their successes and failures. Schools as learning communities focus on what is learned not on what is taught. The teachers observe each other’s classes, collect data and identify need improvement areas and collectively find solutions to problems. The focus is not on what teachers plan to do but on what the teachers actually do. 

Educational institutions as learning communities focus on broader community relationships and networks for developing students’ abilities to play their role in the society and creating productive citizens. Economic progress and students’ academic and social achievement may be ensured in schools as learning communities. Educational institutions as learning communities encourage ways to reduce isolation and thus developing collaboration, curriculum integration, up-to-date approaches to academic pursuits for the improvement of students’ learning.

 The effectiveness of learning communities may be enhanced through creating a professional culture. A professional culture within educational institutions involves educational development and a sense of openness to enhance communicating knowledge. Through an inquiry, effective decision making and providing feedback, the benefits of learning communities can be increased. Trust building is a condition of collaboration among the staff for applying new ideas and reflecting on practices.

The education system in Pakistan particularly and in developing countries generally lacks a collaborative culture and the professionals mainly work in isolation. Enquiry, dialogue and discussion among the staff promote a collaborative culture in which professional learning takes place.  An on-going exploring culture needs to be created in a school which develops the skills of problem solving among the teachers through analyzing, evaluating and synthesizing information. Partnerships across educational institutions can support to create a mutually supportive environment in educational institutions. Teachers need improvement in teaching and learning process through collaboration for creating learning communities in schools.

A traditional bureaucratic view has substantially influenced education in Pakistan used during colonial period in South Asia long ago. The model of learning communities can replace the traditional features of bureaucracy, accountability, inspection, strict rules and procedures in education through collaborative professional learning.