The Story of Collaboration.

What we think collaboration is....

• working together to share knowledge and practice or to support a group of learners
• sharing ideas, resources, expertise, support
• planning together and sharing practice
• provide divergent sharing opportunities
• working together to achieve a common goal
• learning from a shared experience
• the total is greater than the sum of its part Gestalt psychology
• contributing ideas
• supporting and encouraging each other
• developing a path together
• draw on others experience and knowledge
• listening and clarifying 
• working together to benefit kids
• inspiring one another
• building on each others strengths and weaknesses
• learning form others past experiences
• working, sharing, listening, negotiating, compromising, accepting, celebrating, discussing, questioning, challenging, reflecting
• collegial
• building on ideas
• engaging 
• an opportunity for you ti excel your passion / expertise
• kotahitanga - shared ownership
• research to guide group 

Why we think collaboration is important...

• sharing of ideas
• learn to work with others
• accepting others ideas
• more expertise and sharing
• chance for discussion
• see other perspectives
• learn from others
• knowledge is power
• everyone has a voice
• all on the same page
• you don't know what you don't know
• enables us as learners to actively engage with information and ideas
• expanding on ideas
• problem solving together
• wider knowledge base
• more meaningful discussions
• rich discussion
• achieve a wider more inclusive solution
• the ability to share strengths 
• time efficiency
• increased effectiveness
• reduces stress / workload
• children receive consistency in programme
• addresses all on a similar learning pathway
• many small ideas make better big ideas
• develops relationships
• gives confidence
• encourages camaraderie 
• we can learn from each other
• appreciation of different perspectives
• benefits all stakeholders
• Keeps it fresh - things you may never think of
• improves practice
• challenges own thinking and ideas
• can achieve more
• makes life easier
• saves having to learn everything yourself
• raises student achievement
• growth is slow when working in isolation
• gain feedback and challenge and extend ourselves
• Growth
• for sanity

What the research says ....

• support quality work and effective instruction
• More complex problem-solving and extensive sharing of craft knowledge

• Stronger professional networks to share information
• Greater risk-taking and experimentation (because colleagues offer support and feedback)
• A richer technical language shared by educators in the school that can transmit professional knowledge quickly
• Increased job satisfaction and identification with the school
• feature helpful, trusting, and open staff relationships
• foster practices that support success, such as the following:

• Failure, mistakes, and uncertainty in work are not "protected and defended" but are openly shared, discussed, and examined in order to provide support and help.
• "places of hard work, of strong and common commitment, dedication, of collective responsibility, and of a special sense of pride
• Disagreements are openly voiced more frequently and more strongly as purpose and practice are discussed
• The teacher receives respect and consideration as a person
• Collaborative schools have more satisfying and more productive work environments
• Students show improved achievement
• students and teachers lead work together

• collective confidence to respond to changes critically,