Professional Collaboration is a Learning Essential

Collaboration is one of those terms that means different things depending on who you ask.  You could survey 20 people and get 20 variations.  It is because of these variations that we must first clarify what collaboration means in Bismarck Public Schools.

The 4Cs Rubrics, adopted by Bismarck Public Schools, goes beyond the traditional view of working "together" to include other skills.  The rubric defines collaboration this way:

• Collaborate with others
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with
• diverse teams
• Exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal
• Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work, and value the individual contributions made by each team member
• Work productively in teams for sustained periods of time to develop high-quality products

Working from that definition, we must determine what effective collaboration looks like and feels like in our district, our schools, and our classrooms.

The High School Collaboration Rubric outlines clearly the "Advanced Proficient" level.  In our discussions with the 4Cs Rubric Work Team, we have agreed that this level could serve as an exemplar for adults in the work place.  In the link provided, you will find the proficiency scale.  Take a look at the 4 - Advanced Proficient level and think about how you work with colleagues and students in light of the skills mentioned.

A great way for educators to participate in a synchronous professional collaboration is to join one of the education Twitter chats. BPS hosts one of these chats every other Tuesday. You can follow the conversation at #learnbps.  Join us on Twitter in 2015.  All sessions run from 8:30 – 9:00 p.m.

January 13 - Professional Collaboration as a "Game Changer"	January 27 - Parent/Student Communication as a "Game Changer"
February 10 - Student Collaboration as a "Game Changer"	February 24 - Cultivating Creativity as a "Game Changer"
March 10 - Student Voice as a "Game Changer"	March 24 - Authentic Assessments as a "Game Changer"
April 14 - Student Engagement as a "Game Changer"	April 28 - Creating a Culture for Feedback as a "Game Changer"

How to follow #learnbps:

1. Use Twitter –> twitter.com
2. Use Tweetdeck –> tweetdeck.com
3. Use Hootsuite –> hootsuite.com

Did you know…that you do not need to have a Twitter account to follow the Twitter Tuesday #learnbps chats? Just follow the #learnbps hashtag.  However, we want you to Be a Game Changer and join the team by participating in the conversation! Not sure where to start on using Twitter? Go here for some great starter tips: http://goo.gl/LRDJeV

Need a reminder to join the chat? We've got you covered. Click here to have a text sent to your phone 10 minutes before #learnbps starts.