Create Strong Learning Teams

Today’s economy requires that all learning is relevant and collaborative, and extend across the lifespan. "Because learning is no longer preparation for the job - it is the job."  Modern technologies and smart networking make learning teams able to support extended and personalized learning and continuous growth both necessary and possible.

Today’s demanding challenges demand that teachers work in collaboration with other experts.  If educators embrace the resources of the new knowledge economy, our schools could become hubs in a new kind of learning community, led by teams of experienced and novice teachers, consulting technology and content experts, and learning coaches.  Yet to coordinate these opportunities and ensure that resources are directed toward student learning, teachers cannot continue to work alone. 

We have a potential resource on the horizon to fuel these new learning teams: Baby Boomers.  According to a MetLife/Civic Ventures survey , almost half of the 78 million Baby Boomers in the broader workforce say they expect to work after retirement, and a third of those say they want to teach.  These findings are supported by a recent study on the appeal of teaching as a second career.  In addition, 53% of our current teaching workforce (1.7 million teachers) is Baby Boomers approaching retirement.  Their retirement could result in decades and of knowledge and experience leaving our schools. We need to create new pathways and roles to keep these Boomer teachers engaged in education.

Visit NCTAF's new website completely devoted to Learning Teams!

• View the newsletter that launched our Learning Teams Initiative!