Westtown+Schoo

=Westtown S﻿chool =  Westtown is a Quaker affiliated independent school in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Day students are enrolled in PK through grade 10; boarding begins in 9th grade, and all 11th and 12th graders are boarders.

 This is the second year of involvement with the PLP ADVIS Cohort.

**Action**﻿ **Research Project**
(presented on Monday, 9 May 2011)

== **Tea**﻿**m Members** ==

Carl Beehler, Acting Directo﻿r of Technology Brooke Coleman, Dormitory Head, US Math Department, Coach  Carey Kopeikin, Dormitory Parent, US Math Department, Coach  Celeste Payne, Assistant Dean of Students, US Science Department  Ben Temple, Cohort Team Leader, Associate Director of College Counseling, Dormitory Head, US History Department, Coach

**Sch**﻿**ool**
Westtown School﻿ West Chester, Pennsylvania

While each team member had individual ideas of projects in which they were interested, we decided to develop a professional learning network (PLN) as an online community for boarding school educators to share ideas and to discuss best practices. Members of our team reached out to residential life leaders (including Deans of Residential Life and Deans or Directors of Students) at nine regional boarding schools.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can boa <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">﻿ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rding school educators share ideas and discuss best practices despite working at a distance from each other?

<span style="font-size: 1.033em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Objectives** ﻿**and Assessment**
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">__<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.033em; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Obje ctive __ <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.033em; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We wanted to create a p <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.033em; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">﻿ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.033em; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rofessional learning networking for boarding school faculty <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> __<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.033em; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Assessment __ <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.033em; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Self-sustained participation and discussion on <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.033em; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">﻿ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.033em; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the PLN would be the signs of long-term success of our project.

<span style="font-size: 1.033em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Implem**﻿**entation Plan**
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Our project timeline can﻿ be found on Dipity.

<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our communication with other boarding schools clearly indicated interest in connecting with each other. However, the very nature of the job of a boarding school educator makes meeting face-to-face meetings a challenge. In some ways, we do not have a lot to show for our efforts. However, I think that we are confident that the PLN that we have developed is a great potential tool for boarding school educators to stay connected with each other. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We now have a list of contacts to whom we will continue to reach out. We already know that we will be meeting with residential life educators at least one other boarding school this fall. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Possible future topics for our PLN include: <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">
 * 1) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">student handbooks
 * 2) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">residential life curriculum - does your school have one? how have you implemented it?
 * 3) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dorm parents as residential life educators & leaders
 * 4) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">phones - how do you reach students with time sensitive information when they are not in class?
 * 5) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">acceptable use policies
 * 6) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">technology & social media use education
 * 7) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">inclusive policies addressing cross sex & same sex relationships
 * 8) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">policy on sexually intimate behavior between students
 * 9) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">alcohol & drug policy
 * 10) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">dress code
 * 11) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">weeknight evening schedule

<span style="font-size: 1.033em; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Artifacts and Documentat**﻿**ion**
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">Powerful Learning Practice PLP Handbook 2010-11 <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">Google docs - hosted by Westtown ﻿School's Google Apps site <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">Novell Vibe (Westtown Professional ﻿Development Network) - hosted by Westtown School  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">Dipity (Westtown ADVIS PLP Tim﻿eline)  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We u <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">﻿ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">sed Google docs as a repository for our project files, which included:  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">﻿ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Boarding School Contact List <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Boarding School Workshop Topic List  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Online PLN Proposal  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Boarding School Workshop Invitation  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Boarding School Workshop Information  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Westtown Campus Map  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">PLP Team Meeting Notes (16 November 2010)  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">PLP Team Meeting Notes (17 January 2011)  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">PLP Team Meeting Notes (18 February 2011)  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">PLP Team Meeting Notes (28 February 2011)  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">PLP Team Meeting Notes (27 April 2011)  <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">

<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">

**<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> Acknow﻿ledgements **
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; line-height: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our team extends our appreciation for support from: <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: block; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; line-height: normal;">

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">__Our PLP Ye__﻿__ar 2 Team Members__ (2010-2011) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Oscar Sosa, Technology Coordinator, US Spani﻿sh T﻿eacher  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Lisa Cromley, MS History Teacher, Grade Level Team Leader  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Megan Rose, MS English and Math Teacher, Grade Level Team Leader  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> Anny Ewing, LS Spanish Teacher  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Nichole Sacco, LS Computer Teacher  <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Karen Gallagher, US Academic Director, English Teacher

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">__Our PLP Fell__﻿__ow__ (2010-2011) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 17px;">﻿Margaret Haviland, All School Curriculum Coordinator, US History Teacher

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">__ ﻿Year 2's 2009-2010 Wiki __