Collaboration????

Collaboration

After copious amounts of reading about collaboration my head is spinning. All research points to the fact that student achievement increases when evidence of collaboration between TLs and teachers take place. Why then are TLs fighting for their jobs? Is this a good thing as hinted at by Doug Johnson in his article The Seven Most Critical Challenges Facing Our Profession? (Teacher Librarian, 14811782, Jun2002, Vol. 29, Issue 5)
What is collaboration? There seems to be many different degrees of collaboration. After reading Shared Vision: A Key to Successful Collaboration? (Williamson, K., Archibald, A., & McGregor, J. (2010). School Libraries Worldwide, 16(2), 16-30.) This definition stood out;

Definition of Collaboration

Collaboration is a trusting, working relationship between two or more equal participants

involved in shared thinking, shared planning and shared creation of integrated instruction.

Through a shared vision and shared objectives, student learning opportunities are

created that integrate subject content and information literacy by co-planning, co-implementing,

and co-evaluating students’ progress throughout the instructional

process in order to improve student learning in all areas of the curriculum. (Montiel-

Overall, 2005, Section A, para. 9)

Sounds wonderful! In a perfect world….. Reality bites!

Introducing the restrictions to effective collaboration:

·         Limited Funding

·         Conflicting visions/goals

·         Personality conflict

·         Stringent time-table ling

·         Time constraints

·         Lack of understanding of TLs expertise/role

·         Lack of support from principal

And so on………

How much collaboration actually goes on in schools? Is it a myth or does it really happen? Reading Ross Todd’s article Collaboration: From Myth to Reality: Let’s Get Gown to Business. Just Do It! ( School Library Media Activities Monthly Vol. XXIV, No 7/March) was very interesting. He cites studies that show limited collaboration actually happens; as little as 48% in high schools, 44% in middle schools and 25% in primary schools. (Callison 2005 as cited in Todd’s article)
Is it all too hard? Teaching is such a stressful job and the pressures of curriculum and national testing programs just add to it.

On a side note….public schools are fighting for their lives as more and more parents move their children into private schooling. The publication of national testing results has seen more funding moving too these schools as government schools lose their students. Schools are developing the culture of ‘teaching to the test.’ Scary, I say! Are we moving towards an elitist society where only those with money can afford a decent education? I believe the government needs to come to the party and ensure our public schools are as well-equipped as the private sector. Aren’t we going backwards in time by re-adapting the ‘teach to the test’ learning culture? What happened to teaching students to be life-long learners? What has happened to the inquire approach?

In all the doom and gloom I did find some light and inspiration. Joyce Valenza’s article (2010) Manifesto for 21st century school librarians. (October, VOYA Magazine: Kurdyla Publishing. http://www.voya.com/2010/09/15/tag-team-tech-october-2010/) was inspiring and scary! She is so motivated and seems to have so much energy to have accomplished so much. She is amazing and I got some great ideas from her.

I also was inspired and got lots of ideas from other articles I found while surfing the net;

Spence, S. The teacher librarian toolkit for an information literate school community

(http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/rblonline/Library/TLconferences/islandjourney.doc) accessed 9/09/11

Milbury, P. (2005) Collaboration: Ten important reasons to take it seriously, Knowledge Quest 33 no 5 30-2 My/Je

Lamb A, Lamb's Latitudes. Information Age Inquiry. http://virtualinquiry.com/inquiry/inquiry0.htm accessed 22/09/11

Johnson D., (2004) Proactivity and Reflection: Tools to improve Collaborative experiences. Minnesota Media.

 Braxton B., (2008) The teacher librarian as literacy leader. Teacher Librarian. 14811782, Feb2008 Vol. 35, Issue 3

 Buzzeo, T. (2002) Disciples of Collaboration. School Library Journal Sept p34-35

These articles are easy to read, written by mainly TL’s in plain language. They contain numerous helpful ideas to get you on the road to collaboration. They have certainly been saved in my favourites!  I particularly liked Toni Buzzeo’s style of writing; concise, to the point and full of useful ideas. I have even put in an order for one of her books: The Collaboration Handbook 2008 Linworth Books ISBN: 1586830236. Looking forward to its arrival!