Collaborative Consultation

Estimated 8 Hours to Complete Module

Teachers rarely work in isolation. Collaboration skills are increasingly needed as individual student needs become more and more complex. New partnerships are formed between teachers and social workers, physical therapists and psychologists, speech pathologists and paraeducators. All of these relationships require strong interpersonal communication skills.

Collaborative Consultation is based on fundamental principles of partnership and respect. The partners involved must view themselves as being professionally equal. They must respect and acknowledge each other's talents, skills, and field of expertise. All should take care to protect the partner's feeling of competence and self-esteem.

1. (1 hr) Complete the Assessing Your School Culture learning object and submit it to your portfolio.

a. Discuss your results with two other colleagues within your building who have completed the survey as well.

b. Were your results similar? Different?

c. How do you feel your position in your building affected your results versus your colleagues’ positions?

2. (1 hr) Read the article by Marilyn Friend titled Myths and

Misunderstandings about Professional Collaboration. Write a

brief reflection about the article and include answers to the following

questions. Upload your reflection to your online portfolio.

a. How do you define the term “collaboration”?

b. How do you see collaboration in your setting?

3. (.5 hr) Complete the Communication-Dealing with Conflict learning object and post your results to your online portfolio. Answer the following questions in a brief reflection and upload them to your online portfolio.

a. Did you feel that the survey provided a correct assessment of your preferred style for managing conflict?

b. Which style of conflict management do you feel your work best with?

4. (1 hr) Read the article Boldly Going Where Angels Fear to Tread by: Karen D. Howells. Post your answers to the following questions on the Forum. Read other colleagues reactions and respond to at least two of them.

a. What is your reaction to this article?

b. Could you relate to the author’s experiences?

5. (.5 hr) Using information from a previous problem-solving meeting, fill out and complete the problem-solving template in the Problem Solving learning object and post this to your online portfolio.

6. (1 hr) Complete the Settings Demands Analysis learning object as either a Special Educator, Intermediate Special Educator, or as a General Education Teacher. Save your results in your online portfolio.

a. Share your results with one individual with whom you collaborate with in your building. Have this individual also complete the survey and share the results with you.

b. Discuss each other’s expectations based upon the survey.

c. Discuss how helpful you both feel the Setting Demands Analysis is and whether you feel it will help foster better collaboration.

7. (1 hr) If you did not complete the Force-Field Analysis learning object in the Program Development Module, then complete the following: Complete the Force-Field Analysis learning object and save it to your online portfolio.

NOTE: Be sure to save part one in your portfolio before going on to part two.

If you already completed the Force-Field Analysis learning object in

the Program Development Module, then proceed to the next activity.

8. (.5 hr) Complete the Checklist of Accommodations learning object and save your results to your online portfolio. Answer the following questions and post them to your online portfolio.

a. What are the most common accommodations that you see used in your setting?

b. What are the most effective accommodations that you have seen used in your setting?

c. What are some accommodations that you wish you would see used in your setting?

9. (1 hr) Read the article titled Responding to Student Concerns about Fairness by Ann B. Welch.

a. Write a brief reflection about the article including any experiences you have had with students, parents, or colleagues regarding the fairness of accommodations and/or modifications for students with special needs. Upload your reflection to your online portfolio.

b. Visit the Forum section of the web site and post your feelings and/or experiences with colleagues and students concerning accommodations and modifications. Engage in an online discussion with others regarding this topic.

10. (.5 hr) Complete the Trouble-shooting...What if? learning object and

save it to your online portfolio.

11. Evaluation

a. Complete the included evaluation form for the Collaborative

Consultation training module.