Informal Tools
These less formal tools assist teachers and school administrators in their efforts to analyze data and dialogue about dimensions and critical attributes of a PLC, to create plans for fostering a culture of learning, and to structure next steps in developing a PLC school.
| Tool | Typical Setting | Purpose |
| Professional Learning Community Organizer (PLCO) | Facilitator led | To illustrate research-based practices that enhance school efforts under each of the five PLC dimensions and phases of change. |
| Professional Learning Community Development Rubric (PLCDR) | Individual and small group dialogue | To reflect on the school’s culture to delineate the progression of specific school-level practices that reflect each dimension of a PLC through each level of change. |
| Professional Learning Community Innovation Configuration Map (PLC-ICM) | Individual and small group | To identify actions and critical attributes within each phase of change for each PLC dimension. |
| Structured Dialogue | Small group | To deepen initial discussion regarding perceptions, assumptions, and deep-seated beliefs in order to understand the views of others and establish authentic relationships. |
| External Support System- Innovation Configuration Map (ESS-ICM) | Individual and small group | To identify actions and critical attributes of the district office, parents and families, and community members as external supportsfor PLC development. |
| Professional Teaching and Learning Cycle (PTLC) | Large group | To promote exploration and discussion of ongoing, job-embedded professional development focused on alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to state standards. |
| Action Plan for Creating PLCs | Small group | To define goals and consider the current phase of implementation of each PLC dimension, plan next steps, develop an implementation timeline, and identify persons responsible for achieving each step. |
| District Leadership Actions | Large or small group | To identify and define leadership actions utilized by district staff to build leadership capacity and support the PLC framework in schools. |
| Alignment Examination Tool | Medium to small group | To help the district leadership team compare conditions and practices in their district and schools to those in high-performing districts and schools. |
A summary of informal diagnostic and planning tools with typical group sizes and purposes