HBMS+March+Blog+response

__Blog response notes__ 3/16/09 posting:
 * Do we feel that collaboration is important?
 * Which tools might work best in the building and for what purpose?
 * How can we as a leadership team model collaboration?
 * How can this extend outside into the community and beyond the walls of our building?

Ideas:  Modelling collaboration -
 * Collaboration is the best way to make use of the media specialist's services - i.e. joint pre-planning of library activities to combine the teaching of research and presentation skills with the academic objectives, and to utilise his/her knowledge of differentiated information resources. A joint plan could be put together on a wiki or a shared Google document. (Joan)
 * Collaboration among teachers is key so that we can make decisions that are best for all students. Using a tool like this would allow us to brainstorm ideas about a topic whether it be working on a topic across the curriculum or even generating strategies for a struggling student. (Susan)
 * As an administrator I feel it could be used many days to gather ideas about specific students and discuss behavior patterns. I would certainly cut down on the number of emails about the same student in the same situations. As an education tool I feel staff would be able to discuss and share ideas about their individual classroom events and lessons and give supporting staff ideas on how all could work as a team so students would be more successful. I do know that using this as a tool will take a concentrated effort since many people just do what comes naturally like email. (Dan)
 * __** (Added 3/18 for additional ideas requested on how to extend the use beyond the normal use by staff **__) 1. I like the idea for the use of the wiki to post survey questions and/or information. A question could be posed for parents to blog in and give feedback. 2.Students could set up a classroom or team wiki to communicate different ideas with a school in another part of the country or world and exchange ideas about curriculum topics covered in class. 3. We (Admin team) could post all information discussed in monthly meetings so that teachers that want to or need to respond could. An email reminder similar to what we get from the district to review postings could be sent out to all involved. This type of communication is so new we will need to push to remind staff to use and we can lead by example by giving reminders. Has anyone found a button to do a spell check??? Dan
 *  As a classroom teacher, I think it can be used as an interactive tool that can supplement classroom instruction and generate an ongoing collaboration amongst the students. I think as teachers gain experience using these with the students they will see that it is a motivating tool that can be utilized with a plethora of activities across the curriculum to engage most, if not all learners, and will challenge students to extend their thinking and truly become collaborative learners. (Kathie)
 * We need to find as many excuses as possible to use these tools with our colleagues where the information is only available on those media, e.g. place team leader or staff meeting minutes on a wiki and ask for people to write comments. When email was introduced a lot of people were reluctant but then they found they had to use it to get important information. We need to find uses that will motivate, or better still make it necessary for people to visit and use a wiki.
 * Maybe a couple of us could use one of the collaboration tools to plan a shared activity then share the results at a staff meeting or inservice. Similarly if one of us is successful having students use one or either of the tools then that could be presented - maybe even have the kids do the presententation.

Extending beyond the building -
 * One possibility would be collaboration on a survey or other project if a teacher had a friend teaching the same stage in another school or district, maybe in another part of the country – students could share findings, work etc.