PDSA within a Professional Learning Community

*Note- hold down the CTRL key to access the underlined hyperlinks which reference resources
*START HERE- Create/identify a SMART goal based
on the data analysis which includes target performance.

PLC Question #1- What do we want

students to know and be able to do?

7.) Share Success-Plan Next Steps

Share best practices and continue PDSA.
Select next area for improvement.

1.) Standards/Benchmarks & Learning Expectations

Identify the standards/benchmarks that the SMART Goal will
address (Refer to curriculum maps and I can statements.
How do we currently teach/address this skill/SMART Goal? (Use
Flow Chart to document current instructional practice).

Plan For
Continuous
Improvement

PLC Questions #3- How will we respond

if students arent learning?

Define the
System

6.) Standardize Effective Actions

If successful, standardize the practice and
tweak the strategy for optimum results.
If unsuccessful, try another strategy based
on another identified root cause.

Standardize
Improvement
s

PLC Question #2- How do we know

if theyve learned it or can do it?

ACT
PLAN
STUDY

PLC Questions #3- How will we respond

if students arent learning?
5.) Measure Effectiveness of Actions
Monitor the implementation of research-based
action(s) to ensure integrity and fidelity.
Assess impact on student learning through
formative assessment (or in-process measures).

Study
the
Results

DO

Try Out
Improvement
Theory

PLC Questions #3- How will we respond

if students arent learning?
4.) Best Practices/Research Strategies
Target root causes through best practices/research strategies, learning
supports, interventions & differentiation to help students learn (RTI)
Use quality tools such as Force Field Analysis & Action Plan to
document what you will do differently to get different results.

Analyze
Causes

Assess
Current
Situation

2.) Formative Assessment

Refer to PLC Data Analysis template to
review key findings.
Review summative and formative
assessment data related to the SMART Goal.
Identify/create in process or formative
measure to track progress of SMART Goal.
Use data center/data folder to track progress.
Identify baseline performance (Use Run
Chart, Pareto Diagram, or other tools).

PLC Questions #3- How will we respond

if students arent learning?
3.) Root Causes/Barriers to Learning
Determine root causes contributing to the current results and
identify why students arent learning at the expected level.
Use quality tools to help identify root causes (Cause &
Effect Diagram, 5 Whys, Relations Diagram, etc.)