Of course collaboration is one of the BIG 4 C’s, from the Partnership for 21 Century Learning. We know we need to do “it”. But what is it? In a recent survey with about 200 state and district educational leaders, I asked:
“If you had to pick 1, which of the 4 C’s are you best at – Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity?”
Collaboration came in 3rd behind Communication and Critical Thinking. (We can debate how well we really communicate later…) But as we went on, we realized that we had the big idea of what collaboration kind-of is. BUT that most of the work we called “collaboration” was actually cooperative work. Collaboration is actually working together to achieve 1 common goal. It’s iterative, and recursive and more cool words… Maybe best described by this Google Image Search, where you see things like puzzle pieces, handshakes, gears, and webs of people and arrows. I won’t deep dive on theory here, but I believe groups of people can get smarter when leveraging each others strengths. On the opposite side of the coin, groups of people can also drag each other down, be barriers for learning.
HOW do you Collaborate?
Most people say: “I collaborate with people through email.” That’s good. But what other tools are you using? Your mobile device, a browser tool, etc? If we are taking every opportunity to empower and transform learning by providing or promoting collaborative tools, then what’s on YOUR short list? For example, This is a VERY interesting visual of the difference between Email Collaboration and Wiki Collaboration. How you collaborate is extremely important. It can either be the vehicle to push the collaboration along in developing a great final product. OR… it can single handedly KILL the collaboration. For me, collaboration has to include elements or opportunities for visual work, audio, the occasional video, work flow or toss backs on idea development, version control is nice (go back to previous version), and definite opportunities for synchronous (same time/ same place) and asynchronous (different times/different places) work. I shared with some recently on why I love to collaborate with Prezi. When you combine Prezi with a Skype or Skype-like tool it’s a nice collaborative suite. The problem??? Work flow = you have to email the Prezi editing link to your collaborative group, along with meeting times if that is desired, all get into Prezi through the browser, then connect through Skype. That captures most of my requirements. BUT… That’s a bunch of disconnected tools. They’re great, but disconnected.
How MUCH does it or should it cost to Collaborate? (…the point of this post)
Richard Byrne has won numerous awards (EduBlog) for is awesome blog and website on Free Technology Tools for Teachers. Take a wild guess what he highlights. I visit this blog often. It’s great. He is a teacher that seems to really get the ideas of transforming learning and not being held back by funding issues. The point for Richard is FREE. I gravitate towards free. I think we take more chances and try more things when there is NO or LOW costs involved. We can achieve more proof of concept designs when things are free. I’ve been trying to combat the lead of quote from a colleague for over a year now. “Collaboration is only important, when it’s free.” His point is that people are not at all willing to pay for it. Or that it is possibly over-rated. I don’t believe it gives a grade of importance. But rather competition. When Google docs offer great collaboration opportunities, why would you pay for the same experience somewhere else? It’s more of a grade of consumer competition. Free wins most of time. Free ONLY loses when “for pay” opportunities are bigger, faster, stronger, more reliable, and/or more available.
Of course collaboration is one of the BIG 4 C’s. We know we need to do “it”. ..Do we need to “do” it? I believe we need to LIVE it and WANT to participate with each other. Collaboration has to become a natural part of learning experience and work flow. If it’s free, so be it. If it costs a little, it better be good.
great capture —>
Maybe we could add “…with WHOM do you wish to collaborate” to the list. I notice that I’m quick to dismiss a tool like Skype or Lync at the school level because I assume that the principal and teachers can choose to collaborate face-to-face if a high-tech approach doesn’t suit them. Example: A principal may not see great value in if most of their 4C work is within the school or district.
That’s really part of the point… that the tools of today should expand our collaborative horizon. Direct access to various experts is more available now than ever if one chooses to utilize it. Embrace the concept and the debate over tools/price should follow.