The Shared Language of Collaboration: Tools, Processes and Practices Arts Education Conference: Collaborating for Quality The Shared Language of Collaboration: Tools, Processes and Practices

Welcome! Communities In Schools of Chicago Who am I? Who are we? What do we do? Who am I?

Goals For Today We will gain a shared language around collaboration and the various types of collaboration you can pursue We will investigate what our organizations/school/self need, and what we bring to the collaborative table We will explore the process of successful collaboration We will begin to actually collaborate!

What is Collaboration? Collaboration is the mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to achieve common goals. Think of collaboration as a way to do what you do better “Collaboration leads to creativity”

Collaboration Worksheet Let’s go over the worksheet: What is your expertise? Embrace it What is your goal? This is specific to you/your school or class or your organization What is missing? This can be thought of more generally. What are the barriers to reaching your specific goal more efficiently? Better? Faster? What are your assets? This can be lots of things- physical space to funders to time to knowledge and skills

Types of Collaboration Resource Sharing Organizations or educators, typically (although not limited to) those working in the same or similar program areas, share vocabulary and best practices

Types of Collaboration Cooperation Organizations and/or teachers join together to strengthen their reach by intentionally providing their programs/lessons sequentially or as enrichment to another program or class Key idea: your programs and/or class can and will still exist without your collaborative partner

Types of Collaboration Construction Organizations and/or teachers join together and create an entirely new program

Types of Collaboration- Activity You’ll Need: Types of Collaboration- Activity Worksheet You’ll Work: In small groups Your Goal: To classify the type of collaboration demonstrated in each scenario

Types of Collaboration- Activity How did we do? Any questions or shared reflections?

Mock Collaborations Let’s go over page 2 of the worksheet: Commonalities between our goals: We both want constituents to “blank” OR we are both facing “blank” problem Brainstorming: Free write- Dream big- Think small- Brain dump Collective Objective: Share your free write ideas and decide which meets both your needs. Reword this into an objective Type of Collaboration: Which area of collaboration fits best? Tangible next step: Can’t be just a meeting

Mock Collaboration- Activity You’ll Need: The Collaboration Worksheet that has the front page already filled out from a fake organization/teacher You’ll Work: In pairs with someone who has a different mock organization’s worksheet Your Goal: To role play as if you are part of the mock organization or mock school/teacher and develop a collaboration plan with your partner In transition, I will ask folks to

Mock Collaboration- Activity How did we do? Any questions or shared reflections? I hope that some folks find that there was just not a connection- good to know the other person exists but it isn’t going to go further than this Time to edit worksheet after we reflect

Resource Sharing/Collaboration Kick Off You’ll Need: Page 1 of your Collaboration Worksheet Resource Sharing Note Catcher (Page 2 of your Collaboration Worksheet?) You’ll Work: In pairs- then you’ll join another pair Your Goal: To learn about other organization’s best practices/unique aspects to use in the more immediate future, but also to consider how you may work together more deeply

Resource Sharing/Collaboration Kick off- Pairs To discuss with your partner: Start with your name, your organization’s or school’s name, and what your goal is. Then share one or both from below: What is one thing your organization or school/class does differently than others you know about? What is the most successful activity you do with your constituents? Give them time to edit page 1 of their worksheet before doing this

Resource Sharing/Collaboration Kick Off- Add a Pair You are now in a group of 4 Go around, introduce your partner and share What is one thing your partner’s organization or school/class does differently than others they know about? What is the most successful activity your partner’s organization or school/class does with their constituents? Give scenario for clarity- check for understanding

Resource Sharing/Collaboration Kick Off How did we do? Any questions or shared reflections? Successes? Surprises? Exciting Ideas? General Takeaways? Give them time to edit page 1 of their worksheet before doing this

How’d We Do? Goals For Today □ We will gain a shared language around collaboration and the various types of collaboration to pursue □ We will investigate what our organizations/school/self need and what we bring to the collaborative table □ We will explore the process of successful collaboration □ We will begin to actually collaborate!

Thank you! Robin Koelsch Rkoelsch@cisofchicago.org 312-829-2475 ext. 35 @RobinKoelsch @CISofChicago #ArtsEdConChi