Collaboration and Communication

1. CollaborationandCommunication

2. WhatisCollaboration?

3. “Collaboration is…working togethertowards ashared goal.”

4. 1) Positive Interdependence2) Face-to-Face Interactions3) Individual & Group Accountability4) Social Skills (communication)5) Processing (reflecting) Elements of Collaboration Marzano, R., Pickering, Pollack, Classroom Instruction that Works, (ASCD, 2001), pp. 85-86.

5. 1) Positive Interdependence Elements of Collaboration Each member has a unique contribution whose efforts are required and indispensable for the group’s success.

6. 1) Positive Interdependence2) Face-to-Face Interactions Elements of Collaboration We each help the others succeed.

7. 1) Positive Interdependence2) Face-to-Face Interactions3) Individual & Group Accountability Elements of Collaboration Each member has a responsibility to fulfill.

8. 1) Positive Interdependence2) Face-to-Face Interactions3) Individual & Group Accountability4) Social Skills (communication) Elements of Collaboration We learn how to work together and communicate effectively.

9. 1) Positive Interdependence2) Face-to-Face Interactions3) Individual & Group Accountability4) Social Skills (communication)5) Processing (reflecting) Elements of Collaboration What’s working? What’s not?

10. Children need to learn how to collaborate: wordsactionsattitudesproducts

11. What doescollaboration look like? When you are collaborating, what are you doing? Sharing ideasListening to othersTaking turnsAsking questionsHelping others

12. What does communication look like?

13. The Power of WordsClass of 2010 We know that… There are words of kindness and words of cruelty Words can help settle conflicts (instead of fighting) Actions can make words more powerful The power of words depends on who’s listening and his or her perception or interpretation 

14. The Power of WordsClass of 2010 Also, we have found out that… Words can hurt 1 hurt = 5 - 10 kindnesses (or even more!) Hearing “I’m sorry” may not be truly meant by the speaker Saying “I’m sorry” doesn’t guarantee being forgiven Being kind usually brings a kindness in response

15. The Power of WordsClass of 2010 Some advice would be… If you need to say, “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but…” or “No offense, but…” it’s better NOT to say it. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say it. 

16. The Power of WordsClass of 2010 So we should… Choose our words carefully Think before we speak Say what we mean and mean what we say

17. Our Class’s Goals and Agreements

18. In what waysdo weCommunicate?

19. Cooperation Squares Goals: 1. To encourage cooperation 2. To help students become aware of their own behaviors that may help or hinder collaborative effort 3. To build inclusion and influence

20. Cooperation Squares Directions: For each group (of 5) divide up the puzzle pieces. 2. The task is accomplished when each team member has completed a perfect square made of 3 pieces. 3. There is to be no talking, but a member may give a piece to another if she or he thinks it might help that person complete his or her square.

21. Cooperation Squares Reflection Questions: 1. What did you learn about nonverbal cooperation? 2. What cooperation and communication skills did your team need be successful? 3. Why is “giving” a cooperative skill? 4. How did you feel when someone helped your team in a special way? When someone did not notice how to help? 5. In what ways did you help your team?

22. Cooperation Squares Appreciations: “I liked it when…” “I felt good when…” “I’d like to thank… for…” “I appreciate… for…”

23. Can we Collaborate without Communicating?

24. 6th Grade Procedure for Encouraging Collaborative Group Work • Establish trust FIRST! • Determine goals • Establish agreements • Develop responsibilities/jobs • Determine how the responsibilities will be shared • Develop criteria of success • Assess and reflect • Improve and/or continue

25. Establish TRUST ! Create a safe environment • Get to know each other • “Ice-breakers” • Paired Interview • Round Table • Think-Pair-Share

26. Determine Goals What is our goal?Why are we here?What is our purpose?What do we wantto accomplish?

27. Establish Agreements How will we work together?What are our ground rules?

28. Develop Responsibilities/ Jobs What kinds of tasks need to be done in order to reach our goal?How much time do we have to achieve our goal?

29. Determine how the responsibilities will be shared Who will do what?How do we determine who gets which job?Do we share jobs?

30. Develop criteria of success How will we know when we are successful?How will we know if our end result is “good?”How well will we do each job?

31. Assess and Reflect How well did our group do?What can we do better? How well did I participate in my group?What can I do next time to improve?What did I learn?What did we learn?

32. 1) Positive Interdependence2) Face-to-Face Interactions3) Individual & Group Accountability4) Social Skills (communication)5) Processing (reflecting) Elements of Collaboration Marzano, R., Pickering, Pollack, Classroom Instruction that Works, (ASCD, 2001), pp. 85-86.

33. Collaborative Groups create Positive Interdependence Mutual Goals Task is structured so we can’t do it alone; everyone is needed; each has an important role.

34. Collaborative Groups create Positive Interdependence Mutual Goals

38. Collaborative Groups create Positive Interdependence Mutual Goals Task is structured so we can’t do it alone; everyone is needed; each has an important role. Roles – examples: encourager, timekeeper, recorder, materials manager, focuser.

40. Collaborative Groups Involve Individual and Group Accountability 1. a feedback system for individual learners as well as the group Self-assessment Individual assesses group Group members assess each other

43. Self and Peer Evaluation

44. Collaborative Groups Involve Processing (Reflecting)

47. Reflection Questions • What are 3 specific examples of your team working well together? • What was one very important surprising or new thing you learned about yourself and working with others? Explain why this is important. • What was one very important surprising or new thing you learned about yourself and working on this kind of project? Explain why this is important. • Describe at least one gift that another • member of your polis gave to your team. • Explain why this was a “gift.” • Describe at least one gift that you gave • your team. Explain why this was a “gift.”

48. Children’s Reflections on Collaboration “We all had a talent that helped complete our part of the class’s presentation.” “We worked well together because we listened to each other.” “Our group let each other speak so we were able to communicate and work together.” “Each person helped in some way. Each person had a job.” “Our group pieced together our subject and what we needed then we divided it up between ourselves.” “My group checked in with each other every 15-20 minutes to share what we were doing.”

49. This is what has worked for me: • Build trust FIRST ! • Start small (pairs, then triads, followed by foursomes) • Simple tasks (brainstorming, sharing information or ideas) • Specific directions, short procedures/protocols • Remember reflection ! • As children gain confidence and abilities, increase size of group, increase task complexity, increase their responsibilities for decision-making

50. These are purposes for which I use Collaborative Groups: • Sharing information • Sharing ideas and thinking (compare/contrast, webbing) • Deepening understanding • Skill-building or mastery • Researching, Experimenting, Analyzing • Decision-making, Prioritizing, Assessing/Evaluating • Remembering • Designing, planning and producing projects/presentations