Collaboration

Provides opportunity for appropriate collaboration among students

Here is the revision we were thinking of... Do you believe we are going in the right direction?
 * **Excel** || **Meets all requirements** || **Revise** ||
 * **1.** Student willingly works towards group goals. || **1**. Student works toward group goals without prompting. || **1.** Student works toward group goals only when provoked. ||
 * **2.** Student willingly accepts and fulfills individual role within the group. || **2**.Student accepts individual role within group. || **2**.Student completes individual tasks when provoked. ||
 * **3**.Student consistently and actively contributes knowledge, opinions, and skills || **3**.Student contributes knowledge, opinions, and skills without prompting. || **3**.Student contributes to the group only when provoked. ||
 * **4**.Student values the knowledge, opinion and skills of all group members and encourages their contribution. || ||  ||
 * **3**.Student consistently and actively contributes knowledge, opinions, and skills || **3**.Student contributes knowledge, opinions, and skills without prompting. || **3**.Student contributes to the group only when provoked. ||
 * **4**.Student values the knowledge, opinion and skills of all group members and encourages their contribution. || ||  ||

I think the second table looks good! It basically encapulates everything from the first, but much more efficient and to the point. However, at the same time, I like seeing all the detailI from the first table. Its like the standards and the performance indicators for me. Idont know how you guys seem to come up with this stuff so easily....I know I personally struggle with tasks like this. - Rob I agree that the second chart looks a good start, but should it start with something like: The project. I'm not sure about that wording, but just something to show that the project environment promotes collaboration. -Kate
 * **Excel: Teacher creates enviornment where** || **Meets all requirements: Teacher creates enviornment where** || **Revise: Teacher creates enviornment where** ||
 * Students will decide on their personal role for their group. || Student will decide from a predetermined list. || Students were given their roles for their group. ||

I like what Kate stated "allows and guides students to make decisions about their personal roles". I think in a constructvist classroom would have the freedom to let students choose their roles within a group. I do like the second chart better, while the first one has merit, it is a bit cumbersome. Nice revision! Sue

I'm looking at this from another angle. If I am to understand, you are proposing to replace the longer first table with the abbreviated table. Yes! I see collaboration as having two sides. There is the ownership of the individual in their collaborative tasks and assignments that s/he has undertaken as a member. And then there is part that the designer has to guarantee, that the "group", the collaborative body as one unit can be a successful entity. For example, if one of the projects was a "Video Blog", a group of 3 or 4 students might not be a successful entity....6 to 8 would be more appropriate. If the group was to publish a print piece, a smaller group would be appropriate. Does anyone else see "collaborative" as requiring the "designer" to have a keen eye as to the size of the group? -Bud

I think this implies that all work will be done in groups. I believe effective collaboration works from two directions. At the point of view of the individual, the person knows when to seek help from others and knows who to seek that help from, varying that with the task to be accomplished. From the point of view of the group, they can count on lindividuals to contribute appropriately, efficiently and willingly to the overall group goals. Collaboration is somewhat different from cooperation, in my mind.