The document discusses strategies for teachers to effectively collaborate with students and coworkers. It emphasizes establishing an invitational classroom environment where teachers model behaviors like questioning, responding to students, and facilitating peer interactions. Teachers should also collaborate with other educators by planning lessons together, observing each other's teaching, and participating in professional learning communities. The document recommends using technology to enable collaboration beyond the classroom and exploring diverse cultural perspectives to build understanding among students.

1. Teacher as a Collaborator
How to collaborate effectively
La’Vonda Thomas
EIM 504

2. Learning objectives
● Recognize the value of engaging with students and coworkers.
● Co-learn with your students to explore hardware and software systems, including
troubleshooting routine problems as they arise.
● Use technology to facilitate collaboration among experts, peers, and students.
● Identify strategies you can incorporate in a culturally responsive classroom to
promote cultural understanding and global awareness.
(Cennamo,2019)

3. Invitational classroom
● Before a teacher becomes an effective collaborator a certain
type of environment needs to be established in the classroom.
● Invitational classroom is an environment that has a list of key
components that are essential characteristics for the
classroom.
Invitational Environment Key Components:
● Teacher Modeling
● Questioning
● Quality Responding
● Peer Interactions and Discussions
● Reflective Journals

4. Invitational environment key essentials
Teacher Modeling
The teacher should model
appropriate ways to openly and
verbally discuss thinking in
problematic situations. This will
teach and enhance student learning.
Questioning
Ask effective questions that
challenge student thinking. Go
beyond surface level questioning and
model effective questioning.

5. Invitational environment Essentials
Quality Responding
Respond to all questions and responses
in a sensitive and meaningful way.
Students should feel safe and willing to
share.
Peer Interactions & Discussions
Give opportunities for peer conversations
and collaborative work. Model effective
ways to have classroom discussions.
Reflective Journals
Use journaling as a way to get students
to write down their thoughts and
reflect on their learning.

6. ● It is important that time is taken to plan and collaborate with
coworkers.
● Planning new lessons will take time for new teachers this is why it is
important that they plan with others to come up with new ideas.
● Recording your lessons can help you determine what works in your
lesson and what doesn’t.
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
Structures for teacher collaboration, such as dedicated time for grade-level
or department meetings. (Cennamo,2019)
Educators can use these notes and get together and improve their own
practices to further help students.
Planning Together

7. Educators should collaborate with students to explore new technologies
● Students and teachers can share knowledge with each other.
● Teach and model how to solve problems that they might encounter
with technology.
● Troubleshooting Strategies Suggestions
● Troubleshooting should start with what not to do.
● Isolate the problem.
● Identify the best solution.
● Apply a solution and check results.
● Repeat if you have to.
Collaborating and troubleshooting

8. ● Using technology can serve as an aid for students beyond the classroom.
● Students can work together on projects and have meaningful discussions
collaborative online.
Collaborative Tools Online for Students
● Webcams/Video Conferencing
● Discussion Boards
● Chats
● Document Sharing
● Emails
Allow students opportunities to collaborate with each other beyond the
classroom.
Technology as a collaborative learning tool

9. There are a lot of different barriers that can become challenging when collaborating
with students and colleagues that come from culturally different backgrounds.
Educators should strive to become Culturally Responsive and model those same
attributes to their students.
Culturally Responsive Teachers
● Socially aware.
● Understands that students diverse backgrounds aren’t liabilities.
● Is responsible for helping schools be responsive to students.
● Understanding how learners construct knowledge.
● Gets to know students personally.
● Instruction is based on what students know and goes beyond the classroom.
Educators should communicate high expectations and keep students actively
engaged.
Culturally responsive communications

10. ● Understanding your own culture and the culture
of someone else can serve as a great benefit
especially in the classroom.
● Letting students see that you care about your
culture as well as theirs can increase learning.
● Exploring different cultures can give students
new experiences therefore keeping them
engaged.
● Using collaborative ways to clued students from
diverse backgrounds can also benefit students
and help build connections.
● When introducing cultural diversity you have to
teach students to respect all cultures.
Teaching to develop cultural understanding

11. Resources
Cennamo, K., Ross, J. D., & Ertmer, P. A. (2019). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: a standards-based approach (3rd ).
Slide 3 picture(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.neamb.com/work-life/bullyproofing-resources-for-your-classroom
Slide 6 picture (n.d.). Retrieved from https://stock.adobe.com/images/start-up-teamwork-diversity-and-inclusion-concept-business-team-
coworker-working-planning-with-colleague-in-office/177412743
Slide 7 picture (n.d.) Retrieved from. https://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/01/10-edtech-tools-classroom-collaboration
Slide 8 picture(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.raconteur.net/business-innovation/top-10-communication-and-collaboration-tools
Slide 10 quote picture (n.d.). Retrieved from https://attipscast.com/2018/07/09/atchat-book-study-for-july-2018-is-on-the-new-assistive-
tech-make-learning-awesome-for-all/