Learning Communities

Learning Communities Overview

"Sharing knowledge occurs when people are genuinely interested in helping one another develop new capacities for action; it is about creating learning processes."
-Peter Senge, Sharing Knowledge, June 1998

In 1998, the Byram Hills School District embarked on a two year project to formally integrate technology into the curriculum from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The goal of this initiative was and continues to be to use technology in curriculum areas to create meaningful learning experiences for each and every student in the district.

Essential to our technology initiative is the idea of the "learning community." The concept of "learning communities" is adapted from Peter Senge’s book, The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization. While Senge’s book is devoted to improving performance and profitability through learning communities in a corporate setting, his ideas are transferable to a school setting. A learning community is a group of people who are dedicated to learning together in a safe environment that encourages dialogue, feedback, reflection and empowerment.

As a district, we are devoted to providing our students with the means, knowledge, and opportunity to excel and become productive, responsible digital citizens. Our professional learning communities have been formed within each of our schools to address common technology goals and create worthwhile learning experiences for students. Each community is facilitated by a faculty member who has received training in the technology and techniques with which we are working. Teachers collaborate monthly to discover and share technology practices which benefit student learning.

Reflection upon our work is an integral part of the district's professional learning This includes self-reflection, group reflection, as well as reflection on process and product. Of primary importance is the reflection on student learning. Byram Hills is committed to providing our students and faculty with the technological means for lifelong learning in the 21st century.

Learning Communities Meetings

Meeting Times:
Coman Hill: 3:20 - 4:20 PM
Wampus: 3:20- 4:20 PM
HCC: 2:40 - 3:40 PM
BHHS: 2:35 - 3:35 PM

Learning Communities Dates for 2023-2024:
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Wednesday, May 15, 2024


FLEX SESSIONS:
Coman Hill: November, December, February, March
Wampus: November, December, February, March
HCC: December, January, February, March
BHHS: December, January, February, March

*Flexible Hours - each building will determine the months of the flexible hours.

Teachers may choose one of the options below during the four required flexible hours:

  1. Teacher teams choose to meet during times of their choosing, totaling four hours between September and May.
  2. Teacher teams meet during regularly scheduled learning communities times.
  3. Teachers attend the district-offered sessions during the regularly scheduled meeting times.
     

Facilitator Meetings
All Facilitator meetings take place on a Monday after school for approximately two hours.  The locations and time of meetings will be announced monthly to be flexible with gathering in person or virtually.

FACILITATOR DATES FOR 2023-2024

  • Monday, September 18
    K-12 Meeting:  3:30-5:30, HCC
     
  • Monday, October 16
    K-5 Meeting:  3:30-5:30, Coman Hill:  TLC
    6-12 Meeting:  2:40-4:40, BHHS:  Room 100A
     
  • Monday, November 13
    K-5 Meeting:  3:30-5:30, Wampus:  The HUB
    6-12 Meeting:  2:40-4:40, HCC: Bot Spot-Tech Lab Room 113
     
  • Monday, December 18
    K-5 Meeting:  3:30-5:30, Coman Hill:  TLC
    6-12 Meeting:  2:40-4:40, BHHS:  Room 100A
  • Monday, January 22
    K-5 Meeting:  3:30-5:30, Wampus: The HUB
    6-12 Meeting: 2:40-4:40, HCC: Bot Spot-Tech Lab Room 113
     
  • Monday, February 12
    K-5 Meeting: 3:30-5:30, Coman Hill:  TLC
    6-12 Meeting: 2:40-4:40, BHHS:  Room 100A
  • Monday, March 18
    K-5 Meeting:  3:30-5:30, Wampus:  The HUB
    6-12 Meeting: 2:40-4:40, HCC:  Bot Spot-Tech Lab 113
     
  • Monday, April 15
    K-5 Meeting: 3:30-5:30, Coman Hill: TLC
    6-12 Meeting: 2:40-4:40, BHHS:  Room 100A
  • Monday, May 13
    K-5 Meeting: 3:30-5:30, Wampus: The HUB
    6-12 Meeting: 2:40-4:40, HCC:  Bot Spot-Tech Lab Room 113
     
  • Monday, June 10
    K-12 Meeting: 3:30-5:30, HCC: Bot Spot- Tech Lab Room 113


Cyber Camp
Each summer, the District offers a rich array of professional learning sessions through the annual Cyber Camp. Teacher teams collaborate on ways to integrate new technology tools and instructional models into their curriculum and lessons. Cyber Camp provides a great opportunity for collaboration and continuous learning!

Visit the Cyber Camp page for more information. You can inquire with your Building Technology Coordinator if you have any questions.

If you have questions about registration, email Johanna Siragusa or call 914-273-9200, x4967.