Collaboration is a deeply human activity. When humans come together with a shared goal of solving a problem or creating some new innovation to make life better, it doesn't matter how alike or different their points of view might be; in fact, in true, intentional, sincerely meaningful collaboration, the more varied the viewpoints, THE BETTER!
We live in a divisive world right now where, unfortunately, groups of people often refuse to speak, listen, or even acknowledge each other. That is truly one of the greatest tragedies of our current time, and one that, if not addressed, can, in a best case scenario, keep us stuck where we are. In the worst case? It can destroy us from within.
Let's for the sake of clarity, deconstruct the term "collaboration." The prefix "col" (or com in some word constructions) comes from Latin and means "with, together, or jointly." When paired with "laborare," (to labor) it means "to labor with, together, or jointly." I personally like the idea of the meaning "labor together." Collaboration takes hard work--whether physical or intellectual--and those who have worked in collaborative groups know of what I am speaking here! It requires us to get over ourselves and be willing to open our minds to ideas that are not our own - ideas that maybe we never even thought of - to humble ourselves and be willing to free fall a little.
Okay, so we get what it is. Why is it so important? Learning, itself, is an active, constructive, and very social process. In order to really learn new information so it becomes part of us -- so that we cannot just "know" it, but apply it in new and thoughtful ways--we must work actively with ideas in purpose driven ways. Collaboration forces us to immerse ourselves in challenging tasks or questions with others who bring different perspectives, learning styles, experiences and aspirations, to the common table. When we get together and process information, we are not just learning, but our perspectives are growing wider; our minds become open to new possibilities. Students need to talk to one another! It is in this "talking through" process that thoughts, ideas, and solutions expand and new understanding is created for ALL of us in the group!
Now, it's time to do a little more reading about collaboration - just in case I have not yet convinced you rugged individualists (or fellow introverts!) that collaboration is not just enriching but empowering. Click this LINK to read the article. Then respond below by addressing the following:
1. What ONE thing stood out to you most in the article? WHY?
2. Describe a moment when you felt part of a truly successful collaborative group/endeavor.
Finally, I will leave you with this lovely quote from Mother Theresa:
"None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together, we can do something wonderful!"
Here is to bringing collaborative "wonderfulness" (with great love) to our classroom!
One thing that stands out to me about the article is how collaboration could increase efficiency and it stands out because sometimes the opposite is true and the group gets distracted unless the group is carefully moderated.
ReplyDeleteA moment where I was a truly successful part of a group was when I was in my American History class and we were debating and quickly put together a rough essay for the debate using my teams evidence.
Awesome!
DeleteThe one thing that stood out to me was in some of the opening lines how they said that "“collaboration” has become a bit of a corporate buzzword" I did read the whole thing, not just read the first paragraph, I promise, but those opening lines stood out to me. Collaboration has been kinda reduced to just a term that we all hear to the point where it is redundant, vaguely meaning "Coming together to do something" rather than meaning it. A moment of truly successful collaboration was probably when I was putting in flooring and as my dad was putting the new wooden boards, I was nailing in baseboards, as my brother was cutting the boards and trim, and everyone else was measuring, the trim and boards. It was rather efficient and got finished soon.
ReplyDeleteI love that! Truly, you were "laboring together" towards a common goal! :)
DeleteDanielle Young
ReplyDelete1.One thing that stood out to me was the simple definition of the word "collaboration". Something as simple as bouncing off ideas with friends or getting inspiration from online could count as a collaboration.
2. A collaboration that I remember is when I was writing creatively. I have a friend who would read my writing and give me feedback. We will talk about the writing and through that talking new ideas flow through me and gets added to my writing. Without her I wouldn’t be writing or be as invested in my creativity. I wouldn’t call myself the sole author of any of my writing because she plays such a large role in my creative process.
1)What stood out to me the most was that collaboration doesn't have to be a whole bunch of people just working together on a project. It's bring people with specializations together so they can cover each other's weak points in completing a project.
ReplyDelete2) I can't think of any successful group projects that were really good for me to talk about. I guess the word presentation at the beginning of the year, where we all presented different parts of hooligan.
One thing that stood out to me the most during the article is when the term collaboration was defined broadly so many different ideas could fit into its definition. “Collaboration is when a group of people come together and contribute their expertise for the benefit of a shared objective, project, or mission.” (para 3) It's interesting to think that without thinking about working together our natural instinct is to attach to people who think like us rather than finding people who have different views. A moment when I felt most in a group was at my job. When I first started working there I knew no one and then slowly people started to bring me into groups. I felt like the more I showed I wanted this job and did it right the more my co-workers opened up to me. Now looking back on other co-workers it is seen that if you don't do your job right most people don't want to work with you as much. So I learned that dedication to completing a “mission” that is closing together brings individuals closer.
ReplyDeleteWhat surprised me the most in the article is that collaboration boosts morale across your organization. Working in a group consistently allows the trust to build up. Collaborating will not work if there is a lack of trust and low morale. A time that I felt a truly successful collaborative group was in my history class when we worked together on group assignments or even just studying. We all include our ideas and information that we need which helps a lot with understanding the concept faster.
ReplyDelete1. One key thing that stuck out to me in the article was that it said to find another perspective. This stuck out to me because most people actually skip this. When I’ve noticed that someone needs help, they turn angry and say that they can do that task on their own. However, the situation can be simply solved if they had asked for another perspective. Or when they ask, they want the assurance that they’re right. This stood out because I wish that more people would do this and instead ask for another perspective and hear others before acting on an action. This is key to teamwork because if you only act on what you think is right, there will be fights.
ReplyDelete2. The moment where I truly felt part of a successful group was yesterday during class at West Mec. I am in the Vet Science program and we recently got animals. This meant we now have tasks with random groups each day. My group yesterday was assigned to sweep, mop, and clean the kennels. I wasn’t happy about this because when I had watched other groups do this, they typically fought and never got finished in time. However, I was proved wrong. Our group worked tremendously well together and we were able to finish the assignment in just under an hour. I felt truly successful because our group had done what was hard for others and didn’t fight once. We ended up having fun and instead enjoyed the task.
What stood out to me in the article is that collaboration helps solve problems more effectively and helps people become more efficient workers. When there is a problem that one person cannot solve, having another person that takes a different approach take on the problem can often help people solve problems much easier. Many projects would not be possible without more than one person, because nobody can think with every perspective. I think I have felt like a part of a successful group when I am at work and have a great team that night. The night goes smoothly without any mishaps, and it is overall easier for all of us, because nobody has to pick up anybody else's slack. I take a ton of pride in working hard and every time I've been in a situation with a group of hard workers, I feel really good.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me was that collaboration is more efficient than working independently. This seems kind of obvious, but I often avoid working as a group in school because the organization and distribution of everything is a hassle.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm at work, however, I can see how collaboration increases efficiency. When multiple of my friends are there and we are constantly communicating with each other, we can more quickly know when someone needs assistance and are more motivated to jump in and help. On days when people are more introverted or not as close with one another, it is generally a sadder environment and there are more things that go wrong.
The point that stood out to me the most, in the article, was that collaboration helps people learn from one another. This stood out to me because it has been an ever-present truth, for myself. Collaborating with people means you get to communicate with them about their process, and you get to understand the way they approach and think about different things. It can be helpful to collaborate with others to get an alternative perspective on certain situations. It can shift the way you approach some things.
ReplyDeleteOne time I felt like I was a part of a successful collaborative endeavor was this last summer when I participated in Art Fight. Art Fight is a competition, for fun, between artists. People choose one of two different teams, this last year was Team Bloom vs Team Wither, and then they draw opposing teams’ characters to earn points for their own team. You get varying points based on complexity/difficulty. 3 of my friends and I did this competition together, this last summer. We did a lot of drawings while talking to each other, and it was really helpful to learn a little more about their processes.
The thing that stood out the most to me was how collaboration can bring people together. Most team building activities are based around a group of people working together to achieve the goal. Whenever I participate in these activities, I always form strong connections with the people around me. This not only benefits all of us mentally and socially, but it also allows us to work more efficiently together. Being close with your teammates makes collaboration much easier. In my Medical Assisting class, students are divided into HOSA officers. The officers run the classroom, plan events, and ensures that everyone can compete at the HOSA competitions. I serve as the treasurer for my class and I have witnessed first hand how my collaboration with my fellow officers ensures that our classroom runs smoothly.
ReplyDelete1. One thing that stood out the most to me in the article is that collaboration allows people to learn from each other. This seems self explanatory, but oftentimes I get so caught up in my own work that I forget it's a team effort and don't pay any attention to how others can help me.
ReplyDelete2. Just this year, I was placed in a group for history with two boys I didn't know very well. I was nervous at first because they seemed like they wouldn't do any work, but by the end of it we had all of our work done and got full points. Not only that, I was able to grow closer to them and now we are all very good friends.
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DeleteWhat stood out to me from the article is how important proper collaboration is for someone’s morale. The key word here is proper. It is easy to dread group projects, as many people find themselves doing all of the work, and the misery can go both ways. While someone is taking on too heavy of a work load the other person (or people) may feel bored or undervalued, and neither party is having the healthy outcome that is a product of proper collaboration. When everyone is working equally together is when connections are formed and morale is raised. I partake in truly successful collaborations very frequently in math class. Sometimes, even after the teacher explains a topic, students still struggle to understand it in a way that works for them. Collaborating with my math classmates opens me up to new ways of approaching different problems, ways I would have never thought of, and I am able to grasp more difficult concepts through their methods of thinking.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I found significant within the article was the importance of perspective in collaboration. This stuck out to me particularly because, for example in school projects, people often take the first good idea and run with it without considering the alternatives or outcomes; in other words, they don’t utilize the various perspectives from each team member. However, the article repeatedly highlights the importance of perspective when collaborating with others in order to amplify engagement and effective organization. One instance in which collaboration was effective and successful for me is in Odyssey’s IB Film course. In the class, seniors get the opportunity to create a short film in a collaborative group of classmates, in which I have come to learn the importance of perspective. This is because we must each work together to effectively create an end-product, and this process is aided in the various perspectives everyone brings regarding story, cinematography, and equipment.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me the most in the article is how collaboration increases morale across an organization or group. As a group begins to work with another a bond and trust is formed that helps raise the morale in an environment. This can also increase if someone works with different members or groups outside of their usual team. A moment where I felt part of a successful, collaborative group was during one of my games for competitive soccer. Each person from the team participated in the win at the end. After the halftime talk, each and every one of my teammates performed their role and trusted one another to perform theirs. We communicated with each other constantly, establishing chemistry and had a perfect team goal/win.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me was the idea that groups learn from each-other, whether it be different or new knowledge, but it could also be new methods of doing things. One time i felt successful in a group could be when I play basketball. Playing by yourself, or one on one, is pretty difficult, as you don't have any team members to rely on. But when I play with my team, then I have people to rely on, like passing to or using their screen, when you're by yourself you don't have any other resources or tools.
ReplyDeleteThe statement in the article, "We live in a divisive world right now where, unfortunately, groups of people often refuse to speak, listen, and even acknowledge each other" resonated with me a lot. I believe this to be very true. Even in my own family when it comes to things like politics and other issues we can not have a collaborative conversation but more of an argument in which no one is truly listening or acknowledging the others opinions and views. Despite this I have experienced many successful collaborative experiences. An example of this is my church homeless program (IHELP). Many of us have different views, lifestyles, and opinions on how to get things done but we all work together to create the most positive, helpful, and successful environment.
ReplyDeleteSomething that stood out to me that it says that collaboration brings efficiency to a group when I think it reality usually with highschool students that can be untrue. When kids get together they can easily get side tracked so I found it interesting that the article was saying it was extremely effective. One example of a successful collaborative experience I had was a school project where everyone was extremely. willing to listen and learn.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me the most in this article was that collaboration brings people together. This is very true. Communicating helps create a relationship of trust and friendship. I feel part of a truly successful collaborative group/endeavor when I work with fellow classmates in a school project/assignment. Together we share/collaborate our ideas and thoughts to form a conclusion.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me in the article was the 5th reason why collaboration is important, “collaboration boosts morale across your organization”. This stood out to me because despite my love for collaboration I have never conceptualized the impact it has on morale. This section explains how collaboration builds a more trusting and comfortable environment which is beneficial for everyone. This is extremely important in anyone's life and is only one of the many benefits of collaboration.
ReplyDeleteA moment when I felt a part of a truly successful collaborative group was when coaching the mini minotaurs alongside my fellow cheerleaders. We each had a specific role and worked together to teach the material as fast as possible while simultaneously keeping the children entertained and content.
One part of the article that stood out most to me was the problem solving aspect. I enjoy how collaboration allows for different people to come together in order to solve a problem that couldn’t otherwise be solved. We have all been there where we aren’t able to quite figure out a solution, but working with others allows us to find that solution. Multiple perspectives are extremely helpful when it comes to problem solving since you now have multiple people helping you out and giving you more ideas and solutions. I feel extremely successful as a group when it comes to volleyball. Whether it is a practice or a game, volleyball is a team effort and requires everyone’s participation. It is one of the most rewarding experiences when we put in the hard work and it pays off and we win our games. The team aspect of volleyball is one of my favorite parts of the sport, being able to share the highs and the lows with a big group is so special and very rewarding.
ReplyDeleteSomething that stood out to me most was when the article talked about how a group being collaborative are more likely to become "more financially stable, more culturally aligned, and have higher engagement rates". This stood out to me as I found this most interesting because I didn't know that being collaborative and working as a group can lead to these kind of benefits. However after learning this, it makes sense to me as being collaborative seems to be a foundation in a lot of things. A time where I have felt truly successful in collaborating with my peers was at my job. I'm a host at a restaurant, and sometimes it can get chaotic and busy at the front. When you're working with another person to keep things running smooth and well within the restaurant, it is a team effort to communicate with each other and work together to get things done efficiently and correct. It's very important to work together as a team in order to make things less stressful, and make things run smooth for ourselves, the servers, and the customers.
ReplyDeleteOne part that stood out to me the most from the article is the statement that collaboration is so common that we may not even notice it. Going through the 7 reasons why collaboration is so important, I realized that it truly is more common than I thought. It's often incredibly helpful to share my ideas with a friend or multiple friends to have assistance in completing my thoughts at times. Examples of when I've felt truly helpful in a collaborative effort is often in school. I feel that in the groups in this class, I have been able to truly put my thoughts together to dissect Persepolis. Other examples outside of school of collaboration are times when I volunteer at different places. Most recently, me and my mom volunteered at Hope's Closet and worked together to help organize the store.
ReplyDeleteYAY!! I am so happy to hear that about your Persepolis group! I can see that your group really gets into the reading and takes the time to dissect the different roles. :). What a great activity for you and your mom! That sounds like a big job, but as a clothes lover, I would enjoy that, too. Thank you for helping your community like that! I will bet they really appreciated that!
DeleteOne thing that stood out to me in the article was how collaboration with others, when you are stuck, can help you get a different perspective on it. This stood out to me because whenever I am stuck, I ask for help, and different perspectives are always given to me. Perspective is very important in daily life because the way someone sees a situation or story can be very different from another individual. It shows how everyone can have a different perspective, even down to the smallest detail. Volleyball is a great example of how collaborative groups can work successfully. As a team, we all work together to set up a great play and win. Volleyball teams work the same as academic groups. Specifically, they both work together to become successful and achieve a higher goal. If a select amount of people are not cooperative or collaboration in certain plays or drills, it shows how the team can crumble, just like academic collaborations.
ReplyDeleteLove your comment about how easy it is to get stuck focusing on mistakes. That is so true for all of us at all ages. But taking a moment to reflect on the goal and the support all around us, we can rise above! :)
ReplyDeleteOne thing which stood out to me in the article was when it mentioned that collaboration makes us more efficient workers, since we are able to divide a heavy workload. I feel as this is important to help from becoming overwhelmed with specific projects as well as preventing burnout within the classroom and workforce. It is important that you have people to trust that you can lean on and ask for support instead of taking all the responsibility on yourself.
ReplyDeleteAn example of collaboration within my real life was when for IB Psychology my IA group was able to quickly and effectively complete our pre-experiment form by working on it together and sharing a group document. This helped to prevent misinformation between group members, and allowed for us to complete the 8 page google form within 1 and a half class periods, and the extra time we had we were able to utilize and complete other school work we had.
The article discusses how collaboration helps people learn from each other, and that really stood out to me. I am somebody who loves getting to know people and their different personalities, so group projects and team settings are where I succeed. I find that working with others under a common goal never fails to teach me different perspectives. Everybody approaches problem solving differently, so learning these different ideas and approaches can be very benifictal. Recently, my volleyball team played through a rigorous, close match game against Yuma Catholic. We had lost the first two sets, and everyone found each other frustrated with themselves. In the third set, when we thought all was lost, we started building each other up to fight back. And with this energy came points. We fought back from far behind and in the end, we took the third set from them and ended up winning the game. If we had not collaborated with one another to reach our common goal of victory, we would have lost the game. In this, I learned a lot about my teammates and the fire we all have within us.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out the most to me from the article was that collaboration can be a learning experience. I've viewed collaborative projects, especially at school, as just a faster way of getting things done. However, this article helped me realize that people can learn from each other in these settings, as everyone approaches a goal with a different perspective. For my IA in IB Psychology, we have to replicate an experiment in groups. So far this year, I've felt very successful in collaborating with my group because of our different ideas. I feel confident that by having this project done collaboratively that we will be able to learn more from each other and gain more perspectives.
ReplyDeleteThis is from Sarah Emmett, Year 2:
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me from the article is the first way in which collaboration helps people problem solve. Collaboration forces us to look at things from different perspectives, perspectives that may solve different problems. With the more collaboration there is the hard it can be to work, however it does provide opportunities to adapt, problem solve and overcome.
One example of a successful collaboration occurred during an event for the ambassadors of West-MEC. The student ambassadors had to follow strict instructions and stay in one area on the campus during an open house event. An issue occured when no one was present to give tours in some of the programs and buildings and when people were stationed in buildings not relating to their own program. The problem was solved after we all spoke up and presented the issues and we collaborated together to come up with a plan for the next events and open houses.
One thing that stood out to me in this article was that collaboration leads to higher retention rates because it lays the foundation for a more open, connected, and engaged workplace. I also found it interesting that collaboration boosts morale in the workplace because of the connections that are made between workers. An example of collaboration in my life is on my beach volleyball team. Me and my partner need to work together in order to cover every spot on the court and communicate with each other in order to win the match.
ReplyDelete1. What stood out most to me from the article was that collaborative work environments can keep people from looking for other jobs. I had never thought about how a more inclusive and connected work environment could keep workers from leaving. It makes sense, as I know that I feel better when I get to work on big projects with other people that I know and enjoy working with. I think that when I enter the workforce, I will feel happier at a job where I can work with others that I know are just as dedicated as I am. I had never considered this before, but I will keep it in mind moving forward.
ReplyDelete2. I work well in group projects for my DP classes. I cannot recall specific examples, but I know that I feel a lot less anxious when I work on things in a group. If I don’t understand something, there is probably someone else in my group that does. I can use my strengths to help with the project while others bring their strengths, which may be my weakness. I feel as though the project is always done better when I am with people I get along with and work well with because everyone contributes different things and everyone is able to share their knowledge.
After reading the article, one thing that stood out to me was that with collaboration future problems in a project can be solved before a worst-case scenario is reached. This was interesting to me since collaboration is often thought to be used as a final resort, where if one individual could not figure out a solution, then they would ask for help. However, this article implies that it is best to start in a team and with collaboration to be more efficient in a process. One moment when I felt part of a truly successful collaborative group was when I worked on the Odyssey Produce On Wheels Without Waste (POWWOW). In this volunteer opportunity where produce is rescued and sold at the school as a drive-thru pickup event. Many students from the school each contribute at different stations to allow a smooth event. In one of these instances, I worked at the money station where we collected money from the cars. My friend and I took turns accepting the payments and brought them to another student who placed them in a box and gave me their change. Here, we all worked as a team to allow the event to run smoothly and in an adequate amount of time. I believe this experience represented the idea of working collaboratively and as a team at the start of an experience, to avoid future problems, since the event was a success and people were satisfied with the service and outcome.
ReplyDeleteSomething that stood out to me in the article was the idea of collaboration helping us learn from not only our experiences, but the experiences of others. I am very accustomed to the concept that we can learn a lot from mistakes, but I never thought that simply working with others and being exposed to their mistakes could help us thrive in the same ways. It opened my eyes to sharing failures and challenges with others because I realized that I can find new answers for myself while also helping others grow.
ReplyDeleteAn example of when I felt a part of a truly successful collaborative group was in my history class throughout the past couple of weeks. My tablemates and I have figured out that sharing a single document to take notes on as we go through the lecture would provide more information and detail to build off of later when studying. It helped me when I needed notes on certain topics that I was confused on, because the rest of my classmates who were able to understand it had taken notes that I would have access to.
The thing that stood out to me most from the article is the principle of overlapping departments and giving people with different skills the opportunity to share their unique ideas, approaches, and perspectives. It’s a little tricky to conceptualize this idea in the school environment since we don’t really have specialties yet, but the idea of getting people with different backgrounds together is very interesting. It helped me think about why working with others is very rewarding and much more beneficial than limiting yourself to those who have similar approaches to completing work as you do.
ReplyDeleteOne example of collaboration that this reminded me of was volunteer stage work for last year’s fall play and spring musical. The directors, some cast/crew members, and volunteers would all come together on Fridays to work on creating props and sets for the show. We had a long to-do list that needed to be completed before show time and items would range from organizing props to finding costumes, or even building set structures. We weren’t tied down to a specific job every day and instead found something that best suited our skills. I remember working on so many different things with many different combinations of people and it was interesting to see how, despite our differences, we were able to work very well together. One day I would be painting chairs with some crew members, and the other I would be building one of our biggest set pieces with the director, and, now that I look back, it’s interesting to see how we all combined our strengths (and made up for each others’ weaknesses) to work towards an amazing final product!
From the article, what stood out most to me was the fourth claim. Collaborations opens new channels of communication. This is interesting to me because I always like to know different perspectives of individuals and how I can see things differently. I feel like it is very important to learn different perspectives and build a sense of understanding between you and the people you interact with, a sense of understanding and respect is very crucial for any collaboration. I try to have a good understanding of people while I am in my zero period, where collaboration is super important. My zero period class requires a deep understanding of communication and effective use, I am personally very proud of our ability to work together in the class.
ReplyDeleteIn the article, something that stood out was that collaboration brings people closer together (reason number 2), which I have definitely found to be the case for many collaborative groups and endeavors I’ve been involved with. A more ongoing scenario of a successful collaborative group and endeavor I am part of is being a part of Will Power. As we go on in rehearsals for Taming of the Shrew, we’re able to help each other remember lines or learn the newest choreography. We’ve even come together to pull together the spaghetti fundraiser at the October 7th home game and sell out to raise money for our trip to the UK. This has helped especially as I am not a dancer, nor was it ever my forte, but the support has been helping me throughout as we continuously work on the production.
ReplyDeleteThe point that stood out to me from the article was the 6th point. This was fascinating to me because in the past few years we have seen and heard about the increased rate of worker turnover at many companies. This made me wonder if collaboration, or a lack thereof, was a primary cause for this turnover. Collaboration was been important for me, particularly in my DP film class. Last school year I participated in collaborative film projects and I was able to collaborate with the seniors on their projects. This was very fun and has been helpful for me as I have been leading my own collaborative film project this year.
ReplyDeleteThat is an excellent point and connection with regards to employee turnover! I think you are right!
DeleteThe point that really stood out to me in the article was how collaboration breaks down walls and creates stronger relationships. I feel like often times, we as individuals become comfortable in our normal environment with the same people and same tasks. Collaboration with people outside of our everyday circle can challenge us and force us to practice under-used skills and develop new relationships that we normally would not expect.
ReplyDeleteI saw a situation similar to this last year in Willpower. Our group of kids were, from the outside looking in, very diverse; with athletes, actors, dancers, and students in every grade. What I experienced here was the opportunity to form new relationships that I never would have expected. I became friends with people that I never had the opportunity to talk to at school, but was now able to collaborate on something we were equally excited about to create something beautiful and fun.
One thing that stood out to me in the article was number 7 which says that we are more efficient workers when we work in a group because it helps divide a heavy workload. This stood out to me because I agree that working in a group improves efficiency. It personally improves my focus because I am engaged with conversations about the task and collaborating with others keeps my mind from wandering elsewhere. The main moments where I feel truly a part of successful endeavors are when I am working on group projects for school. This year for example, my Persepolis group was able to divide the work effectively and we all were able to collaborate and share our ideas for our analysis. Another example is how last year in my business class, my groups and I were assigned to make videos to act out things such as advertisements, examples of good leadership, and business lawsuits. I felt that these assignments were successful because my groups all participated and planned the videos together. We would always get a good grade and felt accomplished with the finished product.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me from the article was the fifth point that collaboration boosts morale. This was powerful to me because I think that everyone should be able to work in a place that has an engaging and positive atmosphere so collaborative work really helps to establish that. Also, the article said that if your workplace already has high morale then you will be able to transfer to collaboration more easily which shows the importance of having high morale. A moment when I was part of a successful group was in 3rd grade when at my school we had to write a book. I felt like our group really listened to each other and we shared ideas freely and all contributed a lot, which made the project not only successful, but also allowed us to enjoy working on the project and strengthen bonds with each other.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that really stood out to me in the article was the second point which was collaboration brings people closer together. This stood out because I know it is true. We may all have different paths in life but despite that, when we work together towards a collective goal it forms strong connections with others. Weither it be learning together or doing classwork, like the article pointed out, creates a common purpose to be able to interact with your peers and in turn, bring us together. A time I felt successful in a collaboration effort was when I started to see more people within my West-MEC class become certified. Every week a a group of friends and I started doing study sessions together for a big industry certification. We would study for almost 3 hours a night going through questions, learning from one another. In the process, making us a closely knit group. I had gotten my certification and once I saw more and more people also getting certified, I knew that all those hours studying paid off. I was actually even more happy to see them get certified than for myself! To see everyone's success, just from a few hours of collaborative study was truly amazing.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me was that collaborative thinking helps with coming up with ideas and solutions. This is true in every situation and why to be a good leader you also have to be a good listener because other people can have good ideas and their idea might work out better than yours. This is true in filming because if you work together and collaborate you can come up with great ideas on framing and help make the film better.
ReplyDeleteI believe point 6 in the article stood out to me the most in the idea that simple collaboration leads to higher attention rates. I find this is common place in all of my subjects as if I am working with someone I can't zone out or not try because that's rude towards my partner. I am forced for my own good to engage with a topic even if its not my favorite but still am able to learn more then I would have without a group. I feel it does keep me engaged and that idea was mostly proven when Covid struck. I had no motivation to do any of the work, even though I had all the time but at school all you can do is work so why not do it. I don't have the best memory in general but times I can remember I was successful are usually when I am the leader of a group project. I am able to delegate positions to people that are good at them, manage and crunch time and even have to be the one person who thinks logically with a plan that sounds good on paper but might flop in actuality. It's strange, I can't think of any specific examples but when push comes to shover, I can and will shove as a leader to get a good grade on a project.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me was what the article had to say about the effects of collaboration on efficiency, especially in the workplace. Sometimes we do need to admit we need help and that it's wiser and more practical to work together for the sake of the goal. It's often better to do it together than go it alone and not reach the goal at all. One personal example of this was when two of my friends and I collaborated on a science fair project in 8th grade. We were able to complete the project and do it well because we had multiple people working on it.
ReplyDeleteOne part of the article I found interesting was the section about morale. I know my mom works for a very large corporation, but her mood is bogged down a lot of the time because of it. The main issue that she complains is that there is a lack of clear communication, and this article states "As connections are made between teams and departments, people will naturally trust each other more, which can gradually boost the morale of your entire organization" (Moseley 19). After reading that and making that connection, I realized how unorganized collaboration can reduce effectiveness. To contrast, a moment in where I felt a part of a successful collaboration is any time at the end of the fall play. All of the work that each of the actors put and all of the time spent together working on it, when it all comes together for a great performance, I feel really proud, not only of myself, but of everyone a part of the production. This, for me was exceptionally present with the previous fall play, as I spent a lot of time at and outside of rehearsal with everyone, and it was just amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that stood out to me the most was point three, collaboration helps people to learn from each other. I found this to be interesting because before I read it, I had no idea how accurate it was. For instance, in several of my classes, my peers and I must collaborate on projects. After however many weeks it has been since this school year started, we have learned what each of us is skilled at, which makes the collaboration process go more smoothly. The times were I have had the most successful collaborations are when my friend(s) get together and peer edit eachothers work. These are extremely effective because we all want the best for one another, which results in the best feedback.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I found the fourth point to be the most intriguing. I am an individual who likes collaboration to be quieter, so I never saw it or thought of it as an avenue for communication across different branches of the team (or departments, as the article itself refers to them as). While I do believe that there can be too much cross-departmental communication, I do see how this can be beneficial to a company or a classroom environment. I suppose the greatest example of this from my personal experience is playing in an orchestra. While the first violins have their own section in which they must communicate with each other, they also have to maintain communication with every other section in order to play at the right time. One time, I had to play in an orchestra without a conductor. We certainly had to practice our non-verbal communication skills in order to collaborate successfully and produce pleasant music. Overall, I believe that collaboration is an important skill that should be further developed and utilized within our world to be more efficient in areas that need it.
ReplyDeleteI think the part of the article that stood out to me the most was the idea that collaborations allow people to learn and grow. The point makes a lot of sense when gone into detail, but I thought it was very interesting how making mistakes and having successes can allow the group to grow through their varying personalities and perspectives. The group as a whole doesn’t only learn and benefit, but so does each individual. An experience/experiences that come(s) to mind when I think of collaboration are the theater productions that I have been a part of. Every production functions as a body with each role needing to be filled in full in order for the show to be successful. I have worked as a cast member and as a crew member and there are different tasks in those roles, but there is always a common goal. The collaboration has brought me closer to people and allowed me to grow as a performer and as a person.
ReplyDeleteThe part of the article that stood out to me was the fact that collaboration can boost morale across the organization which I thought wouldn't be possible but when I put more thought into it, I began to see what collaboration can do for people and why it helps. To answer the second question, I can't pull out a particular time when a group was truly successful, but each group has their moments when everyone is doing the right thing, but they also have their downfalls and it's really a balancing act between good and bad collaboration.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most interesting part of the article was the fact that collaboration allows you to see different perspectives. Although most people will assume their perspective is right, I think that opening your eyes to other perspectives is already a step in the right direction of problem solving. Seeing other perspectives allows you to understand a problem more clearly, through seeing that there are different and possible even more efficient ways that you can solve it. The most important thing is to stay open-minded, and keep in mind everyone's suggestions, because sometimes new suggestions lead to great ideas and solutions. A time where I had experience with collaboration is this year's fall play, specifically because it is such an ensemble based cast, that you have to really get close and understand what everyone is doing in order to play your role successfully. You also have to be able to problem solve and adapt quickly if something goes wrong, or if someone takes too long for a quick change, or something of that sort. I think this is a successful group collaboration, because we are all working our very hardest to make the show as amazing for our families as we are trying to make it for each other.
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out most to me is that collaboration can mean so many different things. I always just thought it meant working with other people, I never realized what working with other people can do for somebody, though. Collaboration can help with a lot of things in life. It can help people meet others and so many things like that. There have been a few times where I've gotten a group project at school and my team has meshed extremely well together. It's nice when this happens because then one person doesn't have to worry about doing all the work.
ReplyDeleteThis is from Edward Aceves, Year 2:
ReplyDeleteThe article's topic on utilizing collaboration as a tool for personal growth and eventually helping others in doing the same caught my attention. It's simple to become stuck and, in effect, run out of ideas while working on a project or just living your life. It's crucial to stand back during these moments, make use of the resources at hand, and obtain a fresh perspective in order to go ahead. This intrigued me since I frequently have similar frozen moments and I remind myself that I am surrounded by a large number of individuals who may offer assistance and fresh solutions to my challenges.One time I felt collaboration was helpful was during a baseball game. The team we were playing was one of the top teams in the nation with 8 D1 commits and we ended up losing the game and the team had to come together and keep our heads up. If during the game we were focused more on playing together rather than individually the outcome of the game would have been different with us winning. But it’s easy to blame yourself for the mistakes that happened in the games and you always wonder what you could have done differently to change the outcome of the game or in life in general. Now I see collaboration has become a part of everyday life and it’s important to analyze and reflect on the impact it has even if it’s slight.
The different ways of Collaboration are what really stood out to me. Many people understand and interpret different things and have different ways of communicating. When making mistakes its better to uplift others and be there for one another because it makes us feel better and wants to collaborate and learn more. Group projects are when i feel the most successful because when we get a good grade, it feels good. We know we put in a lot of work and our team deserved it. We all collectively worked hard and it feels good.
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out to me about the article was that collaboration is an option for when we need help. I am used to working efficiently independently and would actually feel bad when I needed to reach out for help and collaborate with others. But like the article says, collaboration helps divide the workload and provides creative solutions thanks to everyone's unique perspective. I am a member of Beyond the Stigma and we have had successful collaborative moments even after welcoming the middle schoolers into the club. We had come together to decorate our club board with advice we would have given our younger selves. Not only were we able to decorate our board, we were able to take advice from each other and learn from each other's experiences. It was a nice collaborative moment.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it seems obvious to me now, I found the breakdown of the words etymology to be interesting. I wasn't aware that there was a distinction between collaboration and cooperation, but knowing that the second half of the word comes from "labor", or that its defined as working towards a common goal, is new information to me. I also thought it was interesting how collaboration could not only boost the relationships and speed between the people working on a project, but can impact them in other ways too. The effects of collaboration can include the adaptation of new skills or learning new tactics from other people. So, even after the goal has been met, there's still good things left from the time they worked on it together.
ReplyDeleteThe article lists a number of reasons how and why collaboration is so important, of these, the ways in which collaboration improves morale among organizations and groups was the most profound to me. I found it interesting how through collaboration, a stronger sense of community and morale is created. This section of the text made me think of the issues of ethics and morality that are currently being discussed throughout my other classes and further develops my ethical stance and how I believe ethics are incorporated in different communities.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, I went on a trip with my friend and her family to Durango, Colorado. Over the week we spent there, we participated in many group-oriented activities of which the completion of an escape room best demonstrates the potential success of collaboration. This escape room had multiple parts and proved to be challenging as we had attempted a different room earlier in the week. This time, though, we focused on sharing our thoughts, clues, and ideas together rather than each individually attempting to solve the puzzles. Our collaborative efforts resulted in our success and overall, made the experience much more enjoyable and memorable.
What stood out to me the most was that they said that people consider the word collaboration as a "corporate buzzword" and "cliche" because that is an impression I never got from it. I can see how it could be but I haven't heard it very often in that setting. I think a moment where I was successful in collaboration was on a mission in Mexico where we were able to finish a large project quickly where we had to dig a very deep hole. We thought we wouldn't be able to finish it in time, but even though it was very deep and the ground was hard we were able to get it done in a day.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that stood out to me the most from the article is how benefical collaboration can be if it does work out. Working within groups can cause distractions and less improvement overall for a group if there aren't connections being made. If connections are made and people work together and collaborate, there will be progress within the group and many other benefits. There have been many times within a group for a school project or a sports team where i felt we collaborated well resulting in a good grade on the project or winning the game.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me most in the article was that collaboration boosts morale across an organization. When a company works with people outside of their own team, it shows that they are open and comfortable with new ideas and therefore are much more prone to adopting positive workplace change. Recently, I was in a rehearsal for the nutcracker when our teacher Mrs. Bonnie had us work together to remember the choreography most of us had forgotten. On that day, we worked together to put forward our memories of the dance and try to piece together what we had forgotten. At that moment, I realized how valuable it was to work with others when learning something new because every person will make small mistakes and can correct them in a large group when working together.
ReplyDeleteWhat stood out to me and why? “One of the best things about working collaboratively with people who bring different skill sets and backgrounds to the table is learning from their experience.” Various experiences from other people allow people to learn many other things from their own personal experiences. I found this very interesting as I can personally relate to the idea as I moved and experienced a different community. One successful group experience I had was completely restarting a group project the night before it was due because we had done it wrong on accident. The night before it was due we all actively collaborated and worked on the assignment together with no “social loafing”. Everything was done at a relatively good time and we received a good grade on it. The collaboration between multiple individuals set us up for success.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stood out to me most in the article is how collaboration can boost morale across a group of people. I’ve never really thought about how collaboration can help people trust each other, but when working in a group with different people, both trust and morale are gained naturally. A moment when I felt part of a truly successful collaborative group would be whenever I play a team sport. In those sports, everyone on the team needs to collaborate with one another, and if someone just tries to do something on their own, it’s never successful. Through collaborating as a team, you can win and gain trust in each other.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that stood out to me the most in the Article was the conception that collaboration can help people learn from each other. I found this Interesting because as the Article states: collaboration is so ingrained in society, we rarely notice when we’re doing it. I'm astounded to think of all the things I’ve learned through collaboration. A moment when I felt part of a successful collaborative endeavor is every time I play in the Odyssey band. Every time a band comes together to perform a musical piece is a perfect example of a successful collaboration between incrementalists. Collaborating with other students in the band has taught me a great deal about being a successful musician.
ReplyDeleteI noticed a lot of the 7 points circled back to trust at some point. I found that interesting because while, yes, I would agree that collaboration helps build trust, I wouldn't have thought that it would be such a center point that lays the foundation for all the other collaborative benefits to work. Made me think about it in a new way. In dance class when choreographing there's a lot of collaboration that goes into it with the ultimate goal of an interesting group dance. When we did 'Other Side' by greatest showman last year for spring rehearsals I felt that we had a good system of collaborating where we all contributed and worked well.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I found interesting while reading the article is how much hands-on experience and knowledge we can develop through collaboration. It gives us the opportunity to see how other people can problem solve and helps us to develop the most successful traits that we observe other people potray. I have had this similar experience many times in my life but especially while doing sports. The most notable sport that has contributed to my collaboration skills has been football. Football requires all 11 people on the field being able to work in unison to succeed. I have learned a lot about how to find the best strategies of communication through my experiences with different people and coaches in football.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article, one thing that stood out to me the most was the concept that collaboration is in almost everything we do. I’ve never really stepped back to think about and realize how often collaboration is incorporated into our everyday lives. I truly believed I liked working alone but after reflecting on this concept, I participate in much more collaborative things than I thought.
ReplyDeleteA moment that I felt I was part of a truly successful collaborative group is when I used to do competitive cheer. At practice, our coaches gave us a day where it was “our turn” to be coaches and we were given two hours to create an entire 2 minute and 30 second cheer routine that includes a total of six different sections. I won’t get into the details of the routine but we were able to successfully choreograph this routine in the time given and our coaches loved it.
The thing that most struck me after reading this article was how advantageous collaboration can be when everything goes well. Collaboration can increase morale and enable individuals to learn from one another. When I reflect on all the instances of collaboration in my daily life, whether it be for volleyball, school, or household chores, they are all positive. While being open to new ideas or methods of doing something, we seem to work efficiently as a group. In volleyball, even though each player has a different skill set and we all have the same overall objective, we are more successful in achieving it when we work together.
ReplyDeleteThe article's main point—which I found particularly intriguing—is how much practical knowledge and information we can acquire through cooperation. It allows us to see how other people approach problems and aids in the development of the most effective qualities that we see others exhibit. I've experienced something similar several times during my life, but particularly while participating in sports. Football has been the sport that has most significantly improved my ability to work with others. To win a football game, all players on the field must be able to cooperate. Through my interactions with many individuals and football coaches, I have discovered a lot about how to identify the best strategies. The same can be said while in a marching band, in order to perform the piece of music properly and at an exceptional level, all band members must come together and collaborate.
ReplyDeleteYes! Team sports and music groups are perfect examples of places where collaboration is the key to success/perfection.
DeleteResponse from Toy Landers, Year 1:
ReplyDeleteI really liked when the author said that our ability to collaborate can and will affect the overall success of the group. This stood out to me in particular because sometimes I think that being a perfect individual is more important than being a good teammate. Especially when it comes to sports I often overthink my own mistakes and put too much pressure on myself to carry. I often develop tunnel vision on the field. so that I only see myself and the other team. In the future, I want to have more trust. I want to put more trust in God that he will provide a way for success, and in my fellow teammates that they will have my back and pick me up when I fall down.
When I look back on times that I have collaborated with my peers one specific time stands out in my memory. When our football team played Dysart Highschool this year it took a lot of effort and teamwork to come out on top. The other team had bigger kids and a greater number of athletes. They had more fans in the stands than we did and an extremely biased announcer. It even seemed as if the refs were hoping Dysart would win. They were a good team and the odds were stacked against us. Dysart scored the first touchdown. As a team captain, I did my best to keep the team's spirits up because I knew we could win. Our star quarterback Jaxon Sauls quickly threw a touchdown pass and tied the game. Everyone did their job whether it was to block, run, catch, throw, or tackle. Our communication was impeccable on defense. The consistency of our teamwork and execution along with the faith we had in each other led us to win the game. This opportunity to overcome a trial strengthened our team as a family.
I liked how the author discussed the idea that collaboration boosts moral inside of groups. I found this to be very true from personal experience. When I have trust in the members of my group and the group roles are clearly communicated, I don't have to worry about my other group members falling short of the deadline. I have had to be part of countless group projects in school and they are always less stressful and more painless when all of the members of the group properly collaborate together.
ReplyDeleteI often find group projects quite annoying as they seem to be excessive work or work that could've been done alone, but this article has helped me to see it differently, as it shows the ulterior motives behind the group projects that justifies their existence. The article states that it not only can make work more efficient, but bring people closer together in terms of their relationships and communication, not only increasing productivity, but also morale. Usually, I feel part of a strong group when I'm with friends, which is exactly why collaboration exists: to not only increase productivity and efficiency, but to strengthen one's relationships.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, I found it interesting how collaboration is quite literally in everything we do, despite how many people it may be with. In my life, I can mainly find collaboration in sports I play along with the daily conversations with my teachers. The author, Moseley, said how collaboration and bring people closer together. I completely agree with. When at my softball games, me and my teammates are constantly communicating where the next play will be before it starts, and even when it is currently happening. However, I have also learned that no collaboraiton can bring people to be farther apart if you do not approach it correctly. Adding on, with my parents, similar to the article, the collaboration also helps people learn from one another. When speaking with my mom, especially, we alway find communication and collaboration with each other as #1 at the end of the day. We both learn new things from each other to help gain an understanding form one another, especially when we different viewpoints and arguments.
ReplyDeleteThere was a lot I already knew about collaboration and it's benefits. However, point six said many people will want to join when there is good collaboration, this was something I never really thought about. I knew with collaboration came a boost in moral and an overall better experience but I never really thought of the affect in that way. Being truly successful in collaboration can happen in many different things and ways. One way I experienced this is when I win a soccer game because we all work together for a common goal which is to win.
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