VOYAGE Horizons Module 1 - The Source of the Issue
Chapter 3 - Why a Needs Analysis?

Lesson 3 - Using Surveys to Strengthen Your PLCs

Complete & Continue Next Lesson Learn More

IN THIS LESSON

Surveys provide a panoramic, data-driven look into the skills, knowledge, and motivation shaping your PLCs. This tool helps identify trends, challenges, and strengths across your school, laying the foundation for targeted, effective interventions.

Why Use Surveys?

Surveys are a powerful tool for understanding the state of your PLCs. They offer:

  • A Broad Overview: Capture the collective voice of educators to uncover overarching trends rather than isolated issues.

  • Objective Insights: Identify recurring themes, shared challenges, and areas of strength with data-driven analysis.

  • Timely Feedback: Rapid data collection allows for prompt action.

  • Accessibility: The digital format ensures maximum participation across the school.

While surveys provide valuable data, it’s important to recognize their limitations. Quantitative feedback might lack the depth to capture personal experiences or nuanced challenges, leaving some participants feeling reduced to statistics. However, this is only one step in a broader process of improving PLC effectiveness.

Examples of Survey Questions

To gain actionable insights into your PLCs, consider starting with questions like:

  1. On a scale from 1 to 5, how knowledgeable are you about the core principles and objectives of PLCs?

  2. On a scale from 1 to 5, how comfortable are you with setting SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound)?

These questions focus on skill, knowledge, and motivation, helping to spotlight areas for growth. The VOYAGE Lead Team will work to customize the survey, ensuring it aligns with the unique needs and aspirations of your school.

Next Steps

Please take a moment now to download the PLC Staff Survey Example and the Crafting Your Tailored PLC Survey Worksheet. These resources will guide you and your team through the process of creating a survey specifically designed to address the unique needs of your school. By customizing your survey, you’ll gain valuable insights that can drive meaningful improvement within your PLCs.