Collaboration
When teachers have the opportunity to engage in regular professional discussion with their peers and receive honest, but supportive feedback, not only does their own practice benefit, but student achievement also improves (Cushman, 1998). Conversations, discussions and debates focused on teaching and learning issues nurture professional growth, build relationships, result in more informed practice and improved student achievement. Working together towards a shared vision for student learning, teachers discuss with colleagues difficult questions such as: How can we talk about and share our best practices? How can we engage in critical study of our practice? How much do we trust each other? Is our teaching authentic? How do we know what students know? How do our practices match what we say we believe in?

Change theorist Michael Fullan says, “In order for students to be learning, teachers must be learning” (1995). Job-embedded staff development activities, such as book studies, peer coaching and studying student work focus teacher learning on student learning. Communicating via email, coaching each other in technology and developing authentic technology-rich curriculum are ways that teachers can use technology to learn together.

Teacher Collaboration Articles:
CATs - Collaborative Action Teams Overview of Technology and Education Reform (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory)

The Collaborative Action Team Process (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory)

A Comprehensive Collaboration (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory)

The previous 3 articles describe a process and give examples of how others have developed collaborative action teams (CATs).
Making The Collaborative Process Work (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory)

Addresses how rural schools can collaborate.
Collaborative Action Team Self-Assessment (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory)

Teamwork Keeps Teachers Pulling in the Same Direction (National Staff Development Council)

This short article describes the process through which one school developed teacher collaborative teams.
Team Learning (National Staff Development Council)

Describes the process through which a Milken school developed teacher collaborative teams.
Time for Learning and Collaboration (WestEd)

How Teachers Learn (WestEd)

WestEd provides several examples of how teacher learning has worked in schools.
Creating Learning Cultures With Just-in-Time Support (Staff Development)

Staff learning and technology practices are considered in this article by Jamie McKenzie.

Book Resources on Shared Leadership:

Hackbarth's Educational Technology Resources
Technology resources useful in teaching and training, both in the classroom and via the Internet. Includes a special section with links of particular interest to K-12 teachers and another for Web-based distance learning.

International Society for Technology in Education
A nonprofit professional organization with a worldwide membership of leaders and potential leaders in educational technology. Provides information, networking opportunities, and guidance for the challenge of incorporating computers, the Internet, and other new technologies into schools.

Inside the Wired District
Discusses staff development and efforts to provide more technology training for teachers.

FNO Press
Technology-rich education material by Dr. Jamie McKenzie emphasizing engaged learning, problem-based learning and information literacy. Provides practical, standards-based classroom learning experiences that will work under less than perfect conditions in real schools.

Sample Action Plan for Practice 5:  WORD   PDF