STSD Curriculum & Technology Update

Regular updates and musings on curriculum and technology in the Salisbury Township School District in Allentown, PA.

Collaboration

Psychology Today published an article, “Dream Teams,” explaining one of the benefits of collaboration.

“A signature benefit of collaboration is that it enables each person to be more daring, because the risk is spread out between them. Two people can challenge the prevailing wisdom in their field more comfortably than a solo operator.”

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The theory behind this article resonates with me because I have lived the value of the language in practice not only through project collaboration, but also in peer coaching venues.  I agree wholeheartedly with the author’s comment:
“Ultimately, the magic behind innovative duos comes down to a few key ingredients: The pair usually has a shared vision, and complementary talents and temperaments.”
Totally true, and the end product is more creative risk-taking because you have an educational sounding board and safety net.  I peer coach with two different people and both of them enable me to grow professionally by helping shape my focus and vision for our shared students.  Isn’t that why we are here.

I’ve seen this work well at the middle school.  Sometimes I get an idea and run with it; whereas, if I had ‘bounced’ it off of someone else first, the idea could have been better.

This focus on collaboration really spoke to me this week, as we library media specialists prepared for a professional development opportunity for district teachers.  We knew we were undertaking a major shift when we upgraded to new library software this year.  As soon as we saw demonstrations of how this software could empower our teachers and students to not only access information about our library resources but to create their own meaningful connections, we knew we wanted it.

My plan, however, was to take it slowly.  I wanted to not only get comfortable but to become so familiar that I could consider myself authoritative; to have all the answers—or know how to quickly find them. 

Then I began to see in MY library catalog thoughtful reviews posted by middle schoolers (some of them former students of mine).  I began to hear the voice of a co-worker in another building not only over the phone at mutually available times, but on a podcast she had created about the latest book by one of our favorite YA authors whose books are even more in demand by our students.  That’s when I fully realized the awesome potential we have to empower not only ourselves as professionals but our students within our broader school district community. 

This resource sharing also provides a new understanding that together we make it happen—that it’s not all on my back.  Our potential to empower our peers and students has been increased by our collaboration time to share and plan.  We each have different learning and teaching styles that complement each other and offer a unique perspective.  As we blend them, the result is stronger. 

The best part is that now we are fully harmonizing with an array of voices as teachers and students begin to add their own connections.

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