professional collaboration

Collaboration, in my opinion, is essential in education. Perez (2015) defines cooperation as a group of teachers working independently toward shared objectives that are connected to the purpose of learning and for which they are both held accountable. The days of closing the classroom doors to create a self-contained universe are long gone because the independent classroom doesn’t exist today. However, it should be kept in mind that collaboration requires hard work and effort, therefore dedication is essential from everyone who wants to participate in it.

Collaboration is crucial not only because it enhances teacher performance but also because it enhances student performance. Therefore, educators need to engage in constant collaboration if we are to grow professionally and at the same time improve student’s grades. It should begin by recognizing that a student is the of all the teachers and not just the responsibility of one teacher (Perez, 2015). Also, as a requisite, teachers need the willingness to work others by recognizing that they can’t do it all on their own. Collaboration builds relationships that last and makes a place for one in the school community.

Teachers’ efforts can be enhanced through effective collaboration. The importance of Understanding by Design framework steps up when schools or the entire districts embrace and apply in a well-coordinated way. Some of the practical actions that faculties, department level teams or the entire district staff can adopt to start and move on with Understanding by Design include forming a study group to read and further discuss sections of the book (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). They may also analyze the external achievements, test the data and the students’ output to determine areas of misunderstanding among the students then later come up with an intervention plan (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005).

References

Perez, J. (2015, January 7). Taking the Doors Off the Classroom Through Collaboration. Retrieved from HotChalk: http://www.hotchalkeducationnetwork.com/collaboration-with-purpose/

Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by Design (2nd ed.). Virginia: Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.