Collaboration

Collaboration refers to the ability to participate in teams, establish positive relationships, and learn from others. It also relates to co-constructing knowledge, as well as managing conflict and understanding differing perspectives (Government of Ontario, 2015, p. 56). Educators can build opportunities for learners to collaborate across many areas of teaching the curriculum, and collaboration can relate to a variety of different groupings (partner, small group and whole group.) It is fortunate that many of the digital tools available to educators also afford the opportunity to experience collaboration. Our digital capabilities are increasingly making it possible to collaborate with international peers, and in order for 21st century learners to do so, they need to be explicitly taught to collaborate.

Relevant Resources:

Digital Tools for Collaboration

G Suite for Education includes many digital tools that afford collaboration opportunities for learners. Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Classroom and Google Drive afford students the opportunity to work together to produce assignments, to comment on each other's work, and to contribute to online discussions. If your organization supports these tools, give them a try to increase the collaborative possibilities in your learning environment.

Collaboration in the Classroom

I believe collaboration needs to be taught across many contexts in the classroom, and that there should be scaffolding for collaborative scenarios. Watch this video from the Edutopia website to learn more about the benefits of collaboration as it relates to equity, as well as some examples of collaborative norms in the classroom.

Video Length: 3:51

Assessing Collaboration

Looking for a tool to help with the assessment of collaboration in your learning environment? On the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning website, there is a rubric to help measure the collaborative skills of learners, and it cites criteria for "Working Interdependently as a Team" as well as "Interpersonal and Team Related Skills." You can find it here.

References:Government of Ontario. (2015). Towards Defining 21st Century Competencies for Ontario. 21st Century Competencies: Foundation Document for Discussion. Queen's Printer for Ontario. Retrieved August 9, 2018, from http://www.edugains.ca/resources21CL/About21stCentury/21CL_21stCenturyCompetencies.pdf
Sample Deep Learning Progression. (2013). Retrieved August 9, 2018, from http://npdl.global/making-it-happen/deep-learning-progression/

Image Sources:Collaboration Image: http://www.creative-commons-images.com/highway-signs/c/collaboration.html

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