Lesson 4: 1st PLC Activity — Co-Create Norms + Handle Tough Moments

Establish shared agreements for AI exploration that protect privacy, build trust, and create a safe-to-fail learning culture.

This activity sets the tone for your entire AI exploration cycle. When norms are co-created, teachers are more likely to participate, take risks, and share honestly.

Activity Steps

Step 1: Set the tone (2–3 minutes)

Start with a clear message:

• “This is a safe-to-fail learning space.”
  

• “Exploration is not evaluation.”
  

• “We will use guardrails to protect privacy and trust.”
  

Optional opening line you can use:
“Today is about learning together, not being right. We’re building shared norms so this stays safe, respectful, and useful.”

Step 2: Share the Norms Template (1 minute)

Give teachers the template (paper or digital). Explain that these are agreements, not rules being handed down.

Step 3: Co-create agreements using prompts (10–15 minutes)

Use these prompts in table groups, then share out:

1. What helps us feel safe trying something new?
   Examples you might hear: no judgment, ask-anything culture, permission to be new, shared language.
   

2. What will we do when AI is wrong or confusing?
   Anchor norm: verify before using. Treat outputs as drafts, not answers.
   

3. How will we protect privacy and professional trust?
   Anchor norm: never upload protected information. When in doubt, don’t upload.
   

4. How will we share learning without comparison?
   Anchor norm: “We share practices, not performance.”
   

Capture final norms in real time on a slide or chart paper so everyone sees what’s being agreed to.

Step 4: Finalize + post norms (3–5 minutes)

Decide where they live:

• shared drive folder
  

• team slide deck
  

• PLC agenda doc
  

• LMS page
  

• printed poster in meeting space
  

Make it visible at every session.

Step 5: Prepare for tough moments (5 minutes)

Tell teachers directly:
“We’re going to hear different perspectives. That’s normal. Our norm is to surface concerns and stay in learning mode.”

Use the Tough Conversations Cheat Sheet when concerns surface so you can:

• validate without arguing
  

• redirect to the purpose
  

• reinforce guardrails
  

• invite the next step