Strengthen and broaden collaboration
When leaders purposefully support and build a collaborative working environment, they help create a community of educators and learners who work together towards a common goal. Leaders using tools such as Flip and Microsoft Teams help staff members move towards a culture of collaboration by providing avenues for educators to exchange lesson-planning ideas, and classroom activities.
Microsoft Teams can be used to create professional learning communities (PLCs). PLCs are places in which staff members can feel emotionally safe to take professional risks. Think of a Teams PLC as the new "Teachers' Lounge," where educators can connect in comfortable ways, and conversations often lead to discussions of classroom activities.
Some of the benefits of using Microsoft Teams PLCs to strengthen and broaden collaboration are:
- Having materials organized in one location so no more wondering where a resource is located.
- Being able to chat in conversation streams that are documented and searchable.
- Using Teams for audio or video calls to stay connected.
- Creating channels for small group work or sharing and organizing content.
- Avoiding scheduling conflicts by using the calendar feature.
Leaders can also use Flip to engage community members, staff, and students by using video that creates an open platform for discussion and learning. Using Flip improves visibility and provides opportunities for leaders to engage community members by informing, sharing successes, and engaging more stakeholders.
Following are some ideas of how leaders can use Flip:
- Articulate educational system vision for future initiatives.
- Reflect on goals.
- Share weekly updates or announce upcoming events.
- Ask for feedback from the community.
- Create videos that can be saved on school websites for ease of access.
Creating meaningful partnerships through collaboration with all stakeholders helps improve outcomes and create a better learning experience for all.