Five Dimensions of the Collaborative Culture

1
Five Dimensions of the Collaborative Culture

• A collaborative culture must be built it is not
  automatic
• They are attitudes necessary to carry on a
  democratic governance structure
• The 5 Cs, if intentionally developed and
  nurtured, will make your daily lives more enriched

2
The Collective

• Focuses on the Big Picture
• Shared Vision and Mission
• Focuses on larger issues of education - common
  causes
• Larger professionalism - professional development
  plans in conjunction with mission of the school
• At minimum, focuses on student learning
• At maximum, focuses on evaluation of performances
  of all in meeting the mission

3
The Consultative

• Requires everyone be a consultant to each of the
  others
• Stresses inquiry, assessment and problem solving
• Preoccupation with action research and data
  sources
• Not only students present, but teachers as well -
  to each other and to the education community

4
The Coaching Commitment

• Both students and teachers are unfinished
  learners
• Each teacher has a mentor/coach (may be outside
  the local community)
• Continuous improvement through
• Evaluation of performance
• Mentor/coach review and recommendations
• Results of reviews are shared so that common
  denominators can be identified for professional
  development
• Development of meaningful professional
  development plans, with coach input

5
The Consensual

• Demands that decisions are arrived at by
  consensus/compromise and not majority vote
• All are heard - all voices are to be valued
• Everyone ought to rationalize and communicate
  their opinions in an orderly, respectful way
• Must use benign abandonment when it appears all
  are not in agreement for the good of the
  community

6
The Community

• The ultimate goal of the collaborative culture is
  to create a humane learning community
• All learn to live, study, and manage
  collaboratively together through a governance
  structure that is procedurally sound and sensible
• The school community, as a political entity, is
  continuous with the larger community