This is a presentation that outlines and explains effective ways to collaborate with your peers.

1. By Derek Ford

2.  The characteristics of effective collaboration
 Respect
 Order
 Authenticity
 Trust
 Diplomacy

3.  Respect- is important because when working
together with people you must create an
environment that group members feel that
their opinions are respected and validated.
 Order- Order is important because group
members need to understand their role and
how to effectively carry out their duties.

4.  Authenticity- Each group is unique and it is
important that an environment is created that
allows groups to be their own identity and not
a carbon copy of someone or something else.
 Trust is important because people need to feel
that they are going to get credit for the work
that they have done.

5.  Diplomacy- It is important that group member
are able to work out their problems in fairness.

6.  Here are six ways to foster collaboration and
involvement between parents, families, and
schools:
 Have good 2 way communication
 Parent conferences
 Parent-teacher organizations or school
community councils

7.  Weekly or monthly folders of student work
sent home for parent review and comment
 Phone calls
 E-mail or school website

8.  Community/business school partnerships
 Parental collaboration
 Curriculum connected to real world
experiences
 Student voice
 Cross generation learning
 Locals designing solutions to local problems

9.  Confidentiality-Information that you gather
when working with families should be
confidential.
 Privileged information-At times one could
come across information pertaining to politics
or business that is considered privileged
information. It is also important to keep this
information confidential.

10.  Public Support- Working with groups with the
intent of gaining public support is a matter of
ethical concern. One should choose to get
involved with public issues that they believe in
and not to merely gain public support for their
own personal agendas.

11.  Adler, R. B., & Rodman, G. (1994). Understanding
human communication. Orlando, FL: Harcourt
Brace College Publishers.
 Alberto, P. A., Mechling, L., Taber, T. A., &
Thompson, J. (1995). Using videotape to
communicate with parents of students with severe
disabilities. Teaching Exceptional Children, 27(3),
18-21.
 Aronson, M. M. (1995). Building communication
partnerships with parents. Westminster, CA:
Teacher Created Materials, Inc