To Collaborate or NOT to Collaborate

      Collaboration.  The newest educational buzzword.  How are we going to make the impossible work...COLLABORATION! The irony of the word collaboration in schools is that when you are teaching students, there isn't much time to collaborate with adults. I mean let's be honest...there isn't much time to use the bathroom, so there REALLY isn't much time for rich collaboration.  To alleviate this opposition, there have been a rash of new inventions that enable people to collaborate in online environments...something that is supposed to take less time.  But perhaps the real questions we should be asking are when should we collaborate and what does that look like?

      Before getting into it...here are some situations to consider.  A veteran teacher is teamed with a new teacher for collaboration.  What should each person take away from the collaboration?  A group of eight teachers is asked to collaborate to plan a 30 min award ceremony.  When are there too many cooks in  the kitchen? Two teachers with opposing educational philosophies are asked to collaborate on a common unit.  Who has to compromise their core values?  

     Each one of these situations points out some of the common pitfalls of collaboration.  We all need to admit that collaboration is NOT the magic bullet.  Sometimes collaboration creates a rich, creative, problem solving environment and sometimes it becomes a way for everyone to devise a different way to line students up.  When is collaboration essential and When would we be better off doing things independently?

Collaborate!

    As a basic rule collaboration adds to greatness when

• Deep thinking is going on.  The task is conceptually difficult.
• Objective viewpoints are needed.
• There need to be more ideas on the table.
• There need to be different ideas on the table.
• There is too much work for one person.
• There is enough common ground to build on.
• Consensus is going to be needed for a path.

Don't Collaborate...Just get it done!   

     Collaboration can get in the way when

• The task is easy and conceptually simple. 
• There are lots of options that are all equally fine.
• There is a time crunch.
• One path has already been decided on.
• Arguing might get in the way of accomplishment.

        So if you are needing to design a new grading system for the school, you want to take the time to collaborate and learn together so that you get a creative vision that works for kids.  And if you are simply deciding how to take attendance on a field trip, one person can make that decision and it will be fine.  Think of it this way, how many people do you need to make a box of Kraft Mac and Cheese?  

       When it is time to collaborate, it is a great idea for people to know where their blind spots are and what they bring to the table.  Everyone should get to walk away with something and the product should be better because the right people were in the room.  You know collaboration is working when people are looking energized and the pace of conversation is fast and engaged.  When you see people digging out their iphones to play candy crush, it is time to split the work and call it a day.