Course: BPT 1501

Assignment: 3

Unique code: 593431

Student number: 14232952

Declaration
The Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies places specific emphasis on integrity and ethical
behavior with regard to the preparation of all written work submitted for academic assessment.

Although your lecturers can provide you with Information about reference techniques and guidelines to
avoid plagiarism, you also have a responsibility to fulfill in this regard. Should you at any time feel
unsure about the requirements, you must consult your lecturers before you submit any assignment.

You are guilty of plagiarism when you extract information from a book, article, web page or fellow
student without acknowledging the source and submit it as your own work. In truth, you are stealing
someone else's property. You may not use another student’s work. You may not allow anyone to copy or
use your work with the intention to submit it as his/her.

Students who are guilty of plagiarism will forfeit all credit for the work concerned. Plagiarism is a
serious violation of the University's regulations and may lead to expulsion.

The under-mentioned declaration must accompany written assignments. Your assignment will be
cancelled and returned unmarked if you do not include a fully completed and signed declaration form
I Marisa van Heerden

Student number: 14232952 Module: BPT1501

Declare that...

1. I understand what plagiarism entails and am aware of the University’s policy in this regard.

2. I declare that this assignment is my own, original work. Where I used someone else's work, whether a
printed source, the internet or any other source, I give the proper acknowledgement and include a
complete reference list.

3. I did not use another current or previous student's work, submitting it as my own.

4. I did not allow and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of submitting it as his or
her own work.

Marisa van Heerden 2021-08-16

Signature Date
 Question 1
1. Yes, I do think PLC will improve these situations. PLC stand for “Professional, Learning and
Community:

Professional

This states that the people that work with it have a professional attitude. This means that these
people focus on the welfare of the learners and helping them with their studies and learning
process. The PLC is determined by research and knowledge.

Learning

Learning is very important to the PLC’s. This is for the learners and the teachers. This is also the
learning that is based on practical knowledge and research knowledge. Teachers can do this
research in their own classroom.

Community

PLC is says that learning is done more effectively when it is done within a community where
there are a lot of professionals. The schools can give the culture and structure to facilitate these
learning methods.

Why should schools ha PLC?

It helps the schools the give a healthy and sustainable environment to the learner which will
improve their learning and knowledge.

PLC helps teachers in the following way:

 They help to fill the gap between policy, practice and education theory to make space to
help with practical barriers to join the academic practice with the content knowledge.
 The provide places where a teacher can share his/her ideas with more experiences
personnel and can be monitored and helped by someone that is more professional and
experienced. This helps the teachers question and refresh their teaching and get new
ideas rather than to use old ones.

PLC has 2 very important roles:

 Help teachers to improve themselves which leads to

 Learners improving within the school.
 Here are a few characteristics about PLC

 It creates mutual respect and trust.

 It focuses on learning for all learners.
 It helps developing leadership.
 Teaches learners to be responsible.
 Helps learners to identify barriers and how to deal with it.

Mutual respect and trust

PLC cannot work is both parties do not trust each other and have respect for each other. Trust
and respect does not happen without human intervention. A lot of effort must be put in by
both parties to gain trust and respect.

Learning for all learners

The idea of learning is a very important vision that can increase high-quality learning. A vision
needs to be made realistic with challenges, questions and focus.

Leadership

Support is the school is extremely important for an effective PLC. Principals in a school must be
able to give practical support to PLC like changing the teachers’ time tables, giving space to PLCs
and certain resources like papers that can be used to learn. It indicates that there are many
people that can be classified as leaders for the PLC; it does not consist of just one person.

Responsibility

The PLC will be taught to the learners and after a while they will gain responsibility. They would
want to take part in the PLC process so that they can gain future learning and creating a better
life for themselves.

Barriers

There are some learners that will have more barriers with learning than others. That is why the
PLC will help those who have a lot of barriers in the learning process and even those with just a
few to gain future learning. When the teachers help them they can start to identify barriers on
their own and cam seek help for anymore with experience.
Who is responsible for PLC?

The people who are the most responsible would be the teachers and PEDs. It does not mean
that they need to be responsible for the whole PLC; there are a lot of organizations and people
who have a responsibility to help the PLC. Examples would be:

 DBE
 Principals
 District officials
 HOD’s
 HEI’s
 Teacher unions.

Although everything I just said is very important, we must remember that the success of the
PLC is depending on the learners and the teachers.

Who are they key players?

Teachers

Teach the learners

and be part of
their development.

School teachers Think of Knowledge

Takes ideas to help Subject knowledge

responsibility to children with and academic
teach the learners content
learning.

Policy makers

Support the
learners in the
learning process
What is the role of the facilitator?

The facilitator has a very important role within the PLC. They need to support and motivate the learners.
They also need to build a relationship with the learners and gain their trust. They must understand the
dynamics within groups and predict the outcomes of a learner.

What is the role of the school?

How is PLCs part of the school culture?

Schools that focus on traditional
forms of CPD
How work is organised Not flexible and everyone has
their own time table and keeps
to it.
Professional relations Very few discussions about
professional matters.
Culture Teachers see their jobs as a
routine.
Leadership The principal manages
everything alone.
School as a learning Teachers see a school as just a
organization place of work.
Schools that uses PLCs
Flexible and offers to help where
they can.
They discuss ideas and share
what they think.
Teachers see their jobs as a place
where they can help to solve
problems.
Authority s shared.
Teachers see themselves as
professionals who helps learners
to overcome learning barriers.

Subject committees and subject associations

Structure and relationship

Subject committees
 Gives guidance and leadership.
 Shows how to prepare for the review of
national strategies and international
analyses of assessments.
PLCs
 These are the communities that offer
support for learners and teachers and to
help invent activities that will increase
their development.
 Question 2
The people who are the most responsible would be the teachers and PEDs. It does not mean
that they need to be responsible for the whole PLC; there are a lot of organizations and people
who have a responsibility to help the PLC. Examples would be:

 DBE
 Principals
 District officials
 HOD’s
 HEI’s
 Teacher unions.

Although everything I just said is very important, we must remember that the success of the
PLC is depending on the learners and the teachers.

Question 3
The three philosophies are:

 Perennialism
This is to make sure the learners understand what they are taught. These ideas can help
them to solve problems. Your brain needs to be developed that is why you need to have
an understanding of what you are being taught so that your brain can store the
information for the future. The curriculum focuses more on the literacy, helping learners
“grow” in enduring disciplines. For example, Reading, writing and speaking.
 Essentialism
This is a basic stage of knowledge that a learners must have in an orderly and disciplined
way. Schools need to focus on teaching ethics and intellectual values. Teachers need to
help learners to behave in class and to control their aggression and mindlessness.
Learners should be taught to work hard and to respect the authority. For example,
lecture based classes and worksheets about explained work.
 Progressivism
This focuses on the whole child. Learners should participate so that they can develop
completely and so that the teacher can see where that learners need attention and help
where he/she can. Children should be able to experience freedom and democracy
within schools. For example, reading and discussing