Collaboration - EWWW! Ok, Not really
Like so many people, I was once a huge hater of group projects, this was more so in my undergrad years? Why because you always, always have that Lazy Boo, who will NOT contribute to the group think, group work, or group presentation, but they show up on "The Day" to get the grade...SMH, it's just like the Aesop Fable "The Little Red Hen and the Grain of Wheat", do y'all remember that story? Well, if not return to your childhood and check it out here
Yes, Aesop would be all up in my thoughts when I had to group collaboration projects and even when I required my students to collaborate on group projects. But I learned very early only how important collaborations are in education and in business. So let's start with education, collaboration for both educators and students is important because:
From a business construct group collaboration also:
And in both settings educational and business, collaboration using various technology platforms and resources helps to move even people resistant to social media and technology along in a helpful and useful way because of the group effort and knowledge shares presented along the way.
While the Little Red Hen was able to enjoy her yummy bread she worked so hard all by herself for, once people learn how to encourage participation and hold the nonparticipating crew accountable, over time group projects become much more useful and a richer learning experience than going at it alone.
Yes, Aesop would be all up in my thoughts when I had to group collaboration projects and even when I required my students to collaborate on group projects. But I learned very early only how important collaborations are in education and in business. So let's start with education, collaboration for both educators and students is important because:
- Groups are working towards a common goal
- It encourages cooperation
- It improves social and interpersonal skills
- It promotes effective communication and teamwork
- Increases learning
- Maximizes the learning experience
From a business construct group collaboration also:
- Moves teams and organizations towards a common goal
- Promotes a happier more efficient workforce
- Helps cultivate new skill-sets and competencies
- Encourages teamwork
- Solves problems more quickly
And in both settings educational and business, collaboration using various technology platforms and resources helps to move even people resistant to social media and technology along in a helpful and useful way because of the group effort and knowledge shares presented along the way.
While the Little Red Hen was able to enjoy her yummy bread she worked so hard all by herself for, once people learn how to encourage participation and hold the nonparticipating crew accountable, over time group projects become much more useful and a richer learning experience than going at it alone.
It is true that Strength can be found in numbers... But that is indicative to what kind of numbers they are... Strength in Isolation is more effective than Agreement in Apathy!! But if you can be as fortunate as to find strength in agreement.... then a true collaboration has been born.
ReplyDeleteGreat read!!