1. Developing
collaboration
LIB 604 Libraries in the School Curriculum
Spring 2012
in a learning
community

2. 2
Those who are in love with practice without
knowledge are like the sailor who gets into a ship
without rudder or compass and who never can be
certain whither he is going. Practice must always
be founded on sound theory . . .
Leonardo da Vinci

3. 3
Theorizing for collaboration
Patricia Montiel-Overall:
 Collaboration is a trusting, working relationship
between two or more equal participants involved
in shared thinking, shared planning and shared
creation of integrated instruction.
 Toward a Theory of Collaboration for Teachers and Librarians

4. 4
Models of
Collaboration:
A. Coordination
from Montiel-Overall
“A Theoretical
Understanding”

5. 5
Models of Collaboration:
B. Cooperation
from Montiel-Overall, 2005

6. 6
Models of Collaboration:
C. Integrated Instruction
from Montiel-Overall, 2005

7. 7
Models of Collaboration:
D. Integrated Curriculum
from Montiel-Overall, 2005

8. 8
A continuum from A through D
Montiel-Overall:
 In Model A, an individual could carry out major coordinating
responsibilities alone
 In Model B: Cooperation, teacher and librarian begin to work
more closely
 Model C: Integrated Instruction reflects a deeper level of
involvement
 Model D: Integrated Curriculum involves TLC across the
curriculum. 8

9. 9
“Theory without practice cannot survive
and dies as quickly as it lives.”
Leonardo da Vinci
See Dr. Hank Stevens’ Lab
Ecology and Evolution of Dynamics and Biodiversity
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10. Collaboration in practice
Doesn’t work with everyone
 It has to do with personalities.... I mean, there are
so many factors that come into these things. And to
be under the illusion that you are going to work
with everybody. Well, that would take some kind
of saint. Someone charismatic and charming.
 Heather's Virtual Seminar
10

11. Forging a collaborative culture
A Canadian’s success:
 Collaborations Between Teacher-Librarians and Classroom
Teachers School Libraries in Canada, 2005, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p39-45
11

12. Appealing to teacher needs
Joys and pitfalls:
 A Teacher-Librarian Finally Understands the Joys and Pitfalls of
Collaboration School Libraries in Canada, 2005, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p18-
29 12

13. Essential Ingredients
Time, flexibility, administrative support:
1. There must be “real” time for collaborative
planning
2. There must be flexible access to the library and
teacher-librarian
3. There must be administrative support for a
collaborative climate in which all instructional
staff members are instructional partners
 TAG Team: Collaborate to Teach, Assess and Grow
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14. Doug Johnson on Collaboration
 Recognize what keeps others awake at night.
 Recognize your vital areas of expertise.
 Look for win/win situations.
 Brush up on your interpersonal skills.
 Build slowly, but meaningfully.
 Proactivity and Reflection: Tools to Improve Collaborative
Experiences
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15. “Individually, we
are one drop.
Together we are an
ocean.”
(Ryunosuke Satoro)
Quotes
15