ISSN 2329-9843
International Journal of Education Research and Reviews ISSN 2329-9843 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 098-103, May, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Review
The professional learning community in special education schools: The principal's role
Yonath Amos,* Yitzhak R. A and Dayan Ada
Neri Bloomfeld School of Design and Education, Haifa, Israel
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 13 December, 2014
Abstract
The concept of a professional learning community is characterized by the networks of learning processes which exist among its members, where teachers continuously deliberate with one another on how to solve problems that relate to teaching and learning. Interestingly, whereas a growing number of studies have focused on how to promote collective thinking and learning networks among general public school teachers, as well as between general and special education personnel in inclusive contexts, the notion of professional learning communities has not been explicitly deliberated and empirically investigated in the context of special education schools. The present article attempts to fill in this gap in the professional literature and explore the concept of a professional learning community in special education schools. The conceptual framework of the professional learning community is described, followed by an explanation of the importance of learning communities in special education, focusing on the principal's role in nurturing a learning community in special education schools.
Key words: Professional learning community, special education, principals.