The Collaboration Continuum
While some schools are only just starting to get out of classroom silos, many have been on the path of collaborative professional learning for a number of years. In 2006, Michael Fullan wrote: ‘Collaborative cultures are ones that focus on building the capacity for continuous improvement and are intended to be a new way of working and learning. They are meant to be enduring capacities, not just another program innovation.’ (Fullan: Leading Professional Learning)
Schools with these capacities cannot imagine going back to an individualistic approach to the classroom. Whole school improvement, innovative practice, transformation of teaching and learning, inter-disciplinary approaches – none of these can be achieved without collaboration at their foundation.
Collaboration encourages deep dialogue about our own beliefs, our teaching and learning strategies and, for leaders, our leadership strategies. Unfortunately, my findings in The Buzz diagnostic of over 7800 educators indicates we have a way to go. The statements that trend downward, no matter the level of collaborative culture, are:
- ‘I am confident to speak up when I see behaviour eroding our school’s professional culture.’
- ‘I trust my colleagues’ intentions.’
- ‘As a school we actively seek to challenge each other’s teaching and learning strategies using evidence to inform our dialogue.’
The lowest response across all respondents?
- ‘We actively encourage pedagogical debate in our meetings.’
Collaboration is about transforming and expanding teaching and learning, yet many schools’ teams simply cooperate. They have trouble lifting beyond sharing resources and getting to the space of ‘learning out loud’ with each other.
The Collaboration Continuum outlined in this video is useful to reflect on where the work in any particular school or system is needed. We’re aiming for the top two levels: co-creation and collective capacity.
Activities and Resources
These reflective activities will help you explore and understand the levels within the school’s context, increase understanding of authentic collaboration and identify activities that need to move up the continuum to have impact.
Click the Buzz Buttons below to access each activity or resource.