Introduction to "Plan Site-Based Initiatives"

Video Transcription

Hello and welcome to this unit, called Plan Site-based Initiatives. My name is Gino Sangiuliano. I've been a teacher, an instructional coach, an administrator, and now I'm happy to be your instructor as we take a close look at the features and characteristics of site-based initiatives. Let's get started.

Before we get to the learning objectives, there are a few things I want you to know about the videos you'll be watching in this series. They're not long, but they contain a great deal of information. I also like to start with an example, an analogy, or an anecdote to give you something to connect with about the topic.

For example, I was watching a baseball game on television the other night, and there was a meeting on the mound. It was a tied game, and the pitcher had let a couple of men on base, and the opponent's best hitter was up. There was one out and first base was open. If you're not familiar with the game, all you need to know is that a situation like this, it may be advantageous to intentionally walk the batter. That's when the manager came out to talk with the pitcher, the catcher, and the in-fielders on the mound.

That's a PLC. They were devising an action plan to meet their goal of getting out of the inning with no runs. Their decision of how to approach the situation should be in line with the organization's philosophy, from the general manager all the way up to the ownership.

This unit, plan site-based initiatives, is all about working collaboratively, aligning your work, and reflecting on it to make it better. We will analyze the thinking behind using site-based management in professional learning communities. We'll learn how to create a mission, vision, goals, and norms for your team, and why they're essential for continuous growth. We will also cover the development of action plans and SMART goals, and learn strategies that will help you to do this successfully. And finally, we will learn how to reflect on what's working and what's not with your plan, and if it's not, what you can do to improve it.

Let's go ahead and preview some of the learning objectives in this unit. When we talk about theories, you will hear about some of the leading researchers in the field like Stephen Brookfield, Albert Bandura, and Peter Senge among others. These individuals have laid the foundation for so much of what is happening in schools today, and how they're being run. You may not recognize their names, but you will certainly recognize their work.

Mission, vision, and goals. If you're an educator, you are certainly familiar with these terms. We will take a closer look at not only how to create them, but just as important, how to align them.

Norms. In my opinion, the best thing that ever happened to meetings is norms. The difference they make to the productivity is amazing. In this unit, you will learn the process used in their development and their use.

Action plans and SMART goals. This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. These are very tangible, and completing them means things are getting done and you are moving in the right direction. However, they need to be written well. And in this unit, you will learn how to do that.

As adult learners, we tend to have more control of our own learning environments. We know that working collaboratively is important. We know that creative and critical thinking are necessary when solving problems. We also know that reflection makes us better at what we do. Adopting the mindset that comes with site-based management in professional learning communities will help make these things happen, and have long, lasting, and positive effects on all learners.

So I'll end each lesson the same way, with a quick recap of what was covered. So for this lesson, I began with introducing myself and telling you a little bit about the structure of these lessons. We listed the unit objectives, and went on to preview some of the key lessons. We also took a look at the impact that these structures can have on learning.

And now, a reflective piece I call Food for Thought. Go back to the page with the unit objectives listed, and ask yourself how many of the concepts do you feel confident about.

So once again, welcome. I look forward to learning with you in future lessons. Thanks for joining me and have a great day.