What is Collaboration?

Diane ChapmanNC State University ELI 2009 Online Fall Focus Session

Who Me, A Collaborator?

• Two or more people• Sharing knowledge• Common goals• Sharing authority, accountability,

resources and rewards

“If I could solve all the problems myself, I would.”~ Thomas Edison, when asked why he had a team of 21 assistants.

Changing Landscape

• Flattened• Fast• Connected• Thrifty

Colleen Aalsburg Wiessner

Successful Collaboration• Needs to planned• Benefits all • Powerful• Unlimited potential• Leverages diversity and uniqueness• Results in learning

“In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed”

~ Charles Darwin

Theory

• Adult Learning• Active Learning• Transformative Learning

“Collaboration equals innovation.” ~ Michael Dell (Founder, Dell Computers)

Opportunities (not Challenges)

• Diversity within the group– Communication styles– Learning styles– Cultural differences

• Technology• Assessment• Maintaining our individuality• Bumps in the road

What We Know• Environment

– History of collaboration or cooperation– Legitimacy– Favorable political and social climate

• Membership – Mutual respect, understanding, and trust– Diversity– Members see collaboration in their self-

interest– The ability to compromise

• Process and Structure– Share a stake in process and outcome– Flexibility/adaptability in both structure

and methods– Clear roles and policy guidelines– Appropriate pace

• Communication– Open and frequent– Informal and formal

• Purpose – Clear attainable goals and objective– Shared vision but unique purpose

• Resources – Sufficient funds, staff, materials, and

time– Skilled leadership

From Mattessich, P. W. (2001) Collaboration: What makes it work (2nd Edition) A review of research and literature on factors Influencing successful collaboration, Wilder Publishing.

Questions/Comments?

Communication• Time• Respect for differences• Learning styles• Continuous• Freedom for difference of opinion• Flexibility

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”~ Helen Keller

Time

• To reflect• To build relationships• To use technology• To work

Musicals are plays, but the last collaborator is your audience, so you've got to wait 'til the last collaborator

comes in before you can complete the collaboration. ~ Stephen Sondheim (Composer and Lyricist )

Reflection

• Learning styles• Adult learning theory• Transformative learning theory• Part of the process• Alone and together

“The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.”

~ John F. Kennedy

Structure• Personalities• Diversity• Technologies• Roles• Expectations, purpose, goals• Ground rules

“If I have seen further than others, it is bystanding upon the shoulders of giants.”

~ Isaac Newton

Facilitation/Modeling

• Fostering the belief• Empowering• Guiding not leading• Focus• Modeling behaviors• Ongoing

I think there should be collaboration, but under my thumb.~ Elia Kazan (Film Director and Producer)

Buy-In

• An Ethic• Benefits• Learning more together than individually

• I am MORE because of the experience

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

~Margaret Meade (Anthropologist)

Creative Freedom• New perspectives• Unlimited possibilities• Full potentials• Different ways of knowing• Creativity ≠ chaos• Creativity = productivity

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited.

Imagination encircles the world.” ~ Albert Einstein

Ask these Questions…

• Is there flexibility in the ways that participants communicate?

• Is there enough planned reflection time?• Is this collaboration structured to succeed?• Am I guiding and not leading?• What is each participant getting out of this?• Have I unleashed creative expression?

Questions/Comments?