Caroline Nolan

Student Academic Performance in Relation to Teacher Collaboration

In my thesis, I have chosen to study student academic performance in relation to teacher collaboration. Teacher collaboration is one of the most important aspects in ensuring all students are reaching their full potential and being taught in the ways that best suit them, yet many schools do not have the structure and or tools to do so. My main research question asks “How does teacher collaboration affect student achievement?” My three research questions ask “What are teachers’ perspectives on the importance of collaborating in order to meet the needs of students’ learning needs?” “Is there professional growth for each teacher when special education teachers and general education teachers share perspectives through collaboration?” And lastly, “What are teachers' responses to :collaboration among special education and general education teachers results in increased academic achievement?” With these questions in mind, I chose the methodology called phenomenology. Phenomenological research is “To arrive at certainty, anything outside immediate experience must be ignored, and in this way the external world is reduced to the contents of personal consciousness. Realities are thus treated as pure ‘phenomena’ and the only absolute data from where to begin”(Groenewald p. 43). I decided the best way to get the information I needed was to interview two different teachers who have experience in teacher collaboration and are currently in the field of education. From these interviews I found that teacher collaboration is extremely important and helpful in enhancing student academic achievement and performance. Yet, there is also still work that needs to be done to structure different types of teacher collaboration in schools. Communication and structure are key ingredients in successful teacher collaboration.

Link To Thesis

thesis epilogue.mp4

My Epilogue

In my thesis, I have chosen to study student academic performance in relation to teacher collaboration. Teacher collaboration is one of the most important aspects in ensuring all students are reaching their full potential and being taught in the ways that best suit them, yet many schools do not have the structure and or tools to do so. My main research question asks “How does teacher collaboration affect student achievement?” My three research questions ask “What are teachers’ perspectives on the importance of collaborating in order to meet the needs of students’ learning needs?” “Is there professional growth for each teacher when special education teachers and general education teachers share perspectives through collaboration?” And lastly, “What are teachers' responses to :collaboration among special education and general education teachers results in increased academic achievement?” With these questions in mind, I chose the methodology called phenomenology. Phenomenological research is “To arrive at certainty, anything outside immediate experience must be ignored, and in this way the external world is reduced to the contents of personal consciousness. Realities are thus treated as pure ‘phenomena’ and the only absolute data from where to begin”(Groenewald p. 43). I decided the best way to get the information I needed was to interview two different teachers who have experience in teacher collaboration and are currently in the field of education. From these interviews I found that teacher collaboration is extremely important and helpful in enhancing student academic achievement and performance. Yet, there is also still work that needs to be done to structure different types of teacher collaboration in schools. Communication and structure are key ingredients in successful teacher collaboration.

Impactful Quotes from Interviews

"As a special education teacher, you need to be in constant communication with the others that work with your students to ensure they are getting what they need while also tracking their progress."

"When you have a group of professionals working together who truly care about the students, collaboration comes naturally and communication is something that happens every single day between one another."

"Effective collaboration would be centered around communication. Having consistent and constant check ins with all of the staff involved with a specific student or students. Leaning on your coworkers to balance workload, having mental health supports, evaluating student’s individualized education plans are all other important aspects."

"Bringing colleagues and educators together to openly communicate and work together on lessons, activities and any other ideas for the classroom is so helpful! It allows for new and creative ideas to enter the classroom that students may have never been exposed to. It also helps us as educators to switch up our teaching styles. Specifically for students on IEPs, collaboration is absolutely necessary. Communicating and collaborating with all the specialists involved creates learning experiences for the child that best fits their individual needs."