For the past few years we have been promoting collaboration among teachers as a way to improve student learning. There is ample research to support the benefit of teachers sharing ideas and also a general agreement that a collective effort is better than an individual one. It was with interest then, that I read an article this morning on the short comings of collaboration. The author’s main point is that innovation and creativity are more readily spawned by an individual working alone and that people, including teachers, should consider this.
In the case of education, there is so much that is common to the teaching experience that the working alone route does not make a lot of sense. I am convinced that we can learn from one another. What we need to avoid however, is spending time in collaboration for the sake of collaboration. It is imperative that the collaborative meetings are well facilitated and have just one or two agenda items to keep the conversation crisp. I understand that the big impact creations or innovations on our culture are often made by an individual working alone. Improving teaching does not require such a change. Rather, it needs regular review and refinements.
Collaboration and Innovation
For the past few years we have been promoting collaboration among teachers as a way to improve student learning. There is ample research to support the benefit of teachers sharing ideas and also a general agreement that a collective effort is better than an individual one. It was with interest then, that I read an article this morning on the short comings of collaboration. The author’s main point is that innovation and creativity are more readily spawned by an individual working alone and that people, including teachers, should consider this.
In the case of education, there is so much that is common to the teaching experience that the working alone route does not make a lot of sense. I am convinced that we can learn from one another. What we need to avoid however, is spending time in collaboration for the sake of collaboration. It is imperative that the collaborative meetings are well facilitated and have just one or two agenda items to keep the conversation crisp. I understand that the big impact creations or innovations on our culture are often made by an individual working alone. Improving teaching does not require such a change. Rather, it needs regular review and refinements.