Quick and Creative Collaboration

The introduction of B.C.'s revised curriculum has challenged educators to shift their thinking in regards to the way teachers teach and students learn. While historically education has been a profession where people often worked in isolation, opportunities to discuss ideas and communicate with colleagues have never been more necessary.  Schools, districts, and regional networks have been working to provide various ways for teachers to share their thinking with each other. Three teachers at Parkway Elementary in SD67 came up with a simple but effective method for creating dialogue and exchanging ideas. When they developed something to help their students understand the core competencies, they posted their ideas on the cupboards in their staff room with a written explanation for the staff as well as a pile of sticky notes and a pencil for others to provide feedback. Their message to the staff clearly emphasized that their ideas were a work in progress and that critical feedback would help with the continual revision of their initiative. By choosing a communal space within the school building (the staff room) and providing a simple and quick way (sticky notes) for others to provide commentary, the teachers were able to collect a wide range of responses and suggestions for improvements.

It was a creative solution to the challenge of providing teachers with the essential opportunity to collaborate in regards to the revised curriculum, when there is often so little time available to do so.

Related Posts: See this post for further commentary on the importance of idea exchange in education, or this post for a discussion about teachers as learners.