The purpose of this study was to focus on teacher learning as it
relates to professional learning communities. It is often touted that
schools are a place for student learning, but many teachers now
see school as a place for them to become learners as well through
professional learning communities. This qualitative case study was
designed to determine if the implementation of professional
learning communities was meaningful for the teacher learner and
the teaching culture. A review of literature illustrates how
professional learning communities evolved, gives definitions of
professional learning communities from experts, and discusses
characteristics of successful communities. Two professional
learning communities were studied through a variety of methods
including observations, interviews, questionnaires, and artifact
review. This research study scrutinized three preformulated
topics that emerged as having direct influence on the success of
professional learning communities for participating teachers: (1)
supportive conditions, (2) shared personal practice, and (3)
collective learning and application. The findings declared that the
teachers involved in this study did engage in professional learning
communities where authentic learning takes place. [The
dissertation citations contained here are published with the
permission of ProQuest LLC.