Working Together

In creating our lessons and the lesson improvement activities.  We need to start first by remembering the norms of collaboration & our guidelines to use conflict as a resource.

Norms of Collaboration Inventory

Pausing           
  • Listens attentively to others’ ideas with mind and body           
  • Allows time for thoughts after asking a question or making a response           
  • Rewords in own mind what others are saying to further understand their communication           
  • Waits until others have finished before entering the conversation           
  • Paraphrasing           
  • Uses paraphrases that acknowledge and clarify content and emotions           
  • Uses paraphrases that summarize and organize           
  • Uses paraphrases that shift a conversation to different levels of abstraction           
  • Uses non-verbal communication in paraphrasing           
Probing           
  • Seeks agreement on what words mean           
  • Asks questions to clarify facts, ideas, stories           
  • Asks questions to clarify explanations, implications, consequences           
  • Asks questions to surface assumptions, points of view, beliefs, values           
  • Putting Ideas on the Table and
  • Pulling Them Off           
  • States intention of communication           
  • Reveals all relevant information           
  • Considers intended communication for relevance and appropriateness before speaking           
  • Provides facts, inferences, ideas, opinions, suggestions           
  • Explains reasons behind statements, questions, and actions           
  • Removes, or announces, the modification of own ideas, opinions, points of view           
  • Paying Attention to Self and Others           
  • Maintains awareness of own thoughts and feelings while having them           
  • Maintains awareness of others’ voice patterns, non-verbal communications, and use of physical space           
  • Maintains awareness of groups’ tasks, mood, and relevance of own and others’ contributions           

Presuming Positive Intentions           
  • Acts as if others mean well           
  • Restrains impulsivity triggered by own emotional responses            
  • Uses positive presuppositions when responding to and inquiring of others           
  • Pursuing a Balance Between Advocacy and Inquiry           
  • Advocates for own ideas and inquires into ideas of others           
  • Acts to provide equitable opportunities for participation           
  • Presents rationales for positions, including assumptions, facts, and feelings           
  • Disagrees respectfully and openly with ideas and offers rationale for disagreement           
  • Inquires of others about their reasons for reaching and occupying a position           

Reproduced with permission of Garmston, R. J., & Wellman, B. (2002). The adaptive school: Developing and facilitating collaborative groups. El Dorado Hills, CA: Four Hats Seminars, 337 Guadalupe Drive, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762.



Process Guide #2: Building Consensus

When working in a group it is important that all members of the group play a role. While the simple majority rules concept works for our nation, in smaller groups it could leave members feeling slighted or out of the loop. Consensus is a strategy that involves everyone playing a role in the decision making of the group. In order for this to be successful it is important to be open to compromise!

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the definition of consensus is:

  1. a : general agreement b : the judgment arrived at by most or all of those concerned
  2. group solidarity in sentiment and belief

Guidelines

  • Trust each other. This is not a competition; everyone must not be afraid to express their ideas and opinions.

  • Make sure everyone understands the topic/problem. While building a consensus make sure everyone is following, listening to, and understanding each other.

  • All members should contribute their ideas and knowledge related to the subject.

  • Stay on the task. Reference the time management guide for tips.

  • You may disagree, that is OK and healthy. However, you must be flexible and willing to give something up to reach an agreement.

  • Separate the issue from the personalities. This is not a time to disagree just because you don't like someone.

  • Spend some time on this process. Being quick is not a sign of quality. The thought process needs to be drawn out some.

Procedure

  1. Agree on your objectives for the task/project, expectations, and rules (see guidelines above).

  2. Define the problem or decision to be reached by consensus.

  3. Figure out what must be done to reach a solution.

  4. Brainstorm possible solutions (see Brainstorming Guide).

  5. Discuss pros and cons of the narrowed down list of ideas/solutions.

  6. Adjust, compromise, and fine tune the agreed upon idea/solution so all group members are satisfied with the result.

  7. Make your decision. If a consensus isn't reached, review and/or repeat steps one through six.

  8. Once the decision has been made, act upon what you decided.
This page was designed by Dan McDowell for the Triton and Patterns Projects of San Diego Unified School District. Last updated July 5, 1999.

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