Learning+Walks

**If organisations are to improve they need to build strong learning conversations that are firmly committed to meeting the need for the future. In the school setting this means growing robust conversations about learning and having an absolute commitment to establishing professional learning communities that align talk with practice** - Cheryl Doig.

**What is a learning walk?** A learning walk is a focussed visit through learning areas, followed by feedback and reflection. But more than this - it is about the 'so what?' What will happen with the data that will improve student learning. This is about the next steps in improving practice, developing school wide focus and also about thinking about education for the future. Is what you are seeing in learning areas really pushing where you think schooling should head, or merely reinforcing the status quo?

There are six stages to developing a learning walk (as per the FLEW diagram above) - Form - Focus - Footwork - Follow up - Future.

**Why should we consider a learning walk?** School should be growing robust conversations about learning and having an absolute commitment to establishing professional learning communities that align talk with practice ie: "talk the walk, walk the talk".

**What might we need to start a learning walk?** The foundations for success are built on the development of a healthy tension between support and challenge. This requires a school to: > > [|Learning Walks Diagram]
 * build strong Professional Learning Communities before undertaking Learning Walks;
 * have a clear vision for the future learning needs of students;
 * hold all accountable to meet that vision; and
 * grow staff capacity to be self managing as reflective practitioners

media type="custom" key="5352039" align="center" media type="custom" key="4387763" align="center"