Teamwork: Upping Your Collaboration Game, Part 1 of 5

Overview

Apple recently published a series of three books on the topic of Educational Leadership. Written in partnership with SRI Education's Center for Technology in Learning and with contributions from Apple Distinguished Educators, this series highlights the latest research and knowledge about great teaching and learning. In fact, the book Elements of Leadership even features the Barrington 220 District Technology Committee as an example of shared leadership in instructional technology.

This bsd220tech series will focus on the book Elements of Learning which discusses powerful instructional strategies that engage learners and empower them to believe that their work matters.  This month, we'll explore collaborative learning and discuss the elements necessary for effective collaborative work.

Elements of Learning—Part 1: Teamwork

Collaborative learning, or teamwork, is an effective way to create buy-in from students and ensure that they are practicing the skills that will be needed in their professional lives. At low levels, teamwork merely requires that students participate in group work. Students, working in pairs or larger groups, interact toward a common goal. Teamwork at this level can be as simple as providing opportunities for students to serve as thought partners while they complete work independently.  

This base level of teamwork can be effective if students are being asked to learn in similar ways and should not be confused with higher levels of group dynamics. In lower-level group work, students are primarily completing the same task and working in groups to allow them to gain exposure to more material than would be possible independently. The common drawback of this type of group work is that, if not set up properly, students take on a mercenary mentality and divide up the work seeking the most efficient route to completion.   

More elevated levels of teamwork can require complex groups to take on different roles and rely on each other to complete a shared goal. Students presented with a stimulus challenge are tasked with figuring out not only the solution, but the best way to discover the solution. Rather than splitting up identical work into smaller parts, students must plan, organize, and implement their learning. When designed properly, this will often require different tasks from students and lead to similar, but not identical, learning from members of the group depending on their role. Unique contributions will be required of group members in order to develop a strong solution to the challenge. Students will invest in a problem that allows them to work to their strengths and experience agency as they work toward a solution. The elements necessary for this type of teamwork are a shared product and joint reasoning.  

Technology can greatly enhance the possibilities of elevated teamwork. By improving communication, access to resources, joint reasoning, and workflow, technology can improve the team's efficiency and effectiveness during teamwork.  

Want to Learn More?

The book is available right now, including examples from multiple grade levels and content areas. Download the multitouch book, Elements of Learning, in the Apple Book Store:

1. Open the Apple Books app already on your device in the Applications folder of your MacBook Air or from the App Store (or Self Service) on iPad.
2. Search for Elements of Learning.
3. Click or tap Get.
4. Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.
5. Start reading!