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Notes: Findings are based on a THE Journal online survey open for invitation-only response in spring 2018. After filtering for appropriateness of job roles and completeness of answers, survey results represent 137 respondents. Roles included: teachers (47%), administrators (19%), instructional technologists (12%), Library/Media (8%), IT (6%), special education spe- cialists (3%) and other (5%). Affiliation covered districts (20%), high schools (28%), middle schools (16%), elementary schools (23%), combination schools (11%) and other (1%). Among all respondents, 82% worked for public schools, 14% for privates and parochials, 3% for charters and 1% for other. District size encompassed those with fewer than 2,500 students (27%), 2,500-9,9999 students (26%) and 10,000 or more students (47%). Responses may not total 100% due to rounding. For more information, please visit www.dellemc.com/K12. HOW K-12 LEARNING CAN CULTIVATE COLLABORATION Many educational experts recognize that collaboration is a critical skill for students’ current and future success. Yet, collaboration isn’t necessarily a natural skill. Students need to learn how to work with others. And they need the tools, opportunities and space to collaborate. Here’s what THE Journal learned when it asked educators about instilling collaboration into their classroom practices. WHY TEACH COLLABORATION report: To develop communication skills report: To develop higher-level thinking WHERE SCHOOLS ARE IN THIS PROCESS COMMON WAYS OF COLLABORATION FOR STUDENTS 9 in 10: Among Students in the classroom 4 in 10: Among students in other classrooms 3 in 10: Among students in other grades or schools 3 in 10: Among Community members FOR TEACHERS 6 in 10: In a school professional learning network 5 in 10: In lesson co-development | In co-teaching 4 in 10: In district professional learning network 3 in 10: In casual interactions on campus STUDENT COLLABORATION IN ACTION ASSESSING COLLABORATIVE LEARNING (used by at least half of teachers, in order of popularity) Observations during group work Students reflecting on their work Students grading each other Students grading themselves Use of individual quizzes or assignments Group grading 7 FAVORITE TECHNIQUES (used by a majority of teachers, in order of popularity) Brainstorming Giving students choice in teammates Team “icebreaker” or “warm-up” activities “Think-pair-share” or “Write-pair-share” Laying out defined roles Shuffling kids around “Jigsaw” PROJECT ROLES Just getting started Room for development Work in progress Well- developed 11% 30% 52% 8% Teacher assigns roles Students choose roles Roles cycle from one project to another Roles cycle among team members during a project 74% 68% 40% 31% COLLABORATION GEAR TOOLS IN USE 7 in 10: Interactive displays/whiteboards/projectors 6 in 10: Microsoft Office 365 Education/Google G Suite for Education 4 in 10: Murals or bulletin boards 3 in 10: Screen-sharing technology for student devices 2 in 10: Mind-mappers 1 in 10: Dedicated collaboration software | Video-conferencing | Wikis SPACES IN USE 8 in 10: Collaborative desk groupings or tables in classrooms 4 in 10: Zones of interaction in classrooms | In media centers/libraries 2 in 10: Hallways and other common areas | STEM/STEAM labs | Maker/ creation spaces | Outdoors 1 in 10: Learning commons 5 ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS COMPLICATIONS IN COLLABORATION COOL COLLABORATION IDEAS “For book reports, students form groups of four, each with a specific task: biographer, historian, sociologist and team leader. These positions rotate with each new book report.” “...Involve children in preparing a favorite snack, sharing tasks and taking turns in the process from measuring ingredients, to mixing and baking, to serving and clean up...” “I like to use icebreakers so that students can get to know students outside their clique and see that they are interesting people.” TOP 5 BARRIERS in integrating collaborative approaches in learning 1. Managing the classroom 2. Finding time to prepare 3. Giving up teacher control is hard | Getting shy students to participate 4. Assessment is more difficult 5. Student-student differences stand in the way WHAT WOULD HELP 1. Budget! | A learning model that prioritizes collaboration 2. Technology to support collaboration | Models and examples of teaching practices 3. Professional design expertise 4. Development of student skills with teams or groups 5. Administrative support 1 2 3 4 5 Ease of movement involving furniture and technology Adaptable group arrangements Support for a variety of student choices Physical proximity to other groups Whiteboards and other idea sharing spaces 1 2 3 4 5 6 “We’ve had success with robotics. Students collaborate, negotiate, and problem solve to get their robot moving.” “The word BUT is not allowed. Only AND can be used during collaboration.”
