The National Staff Development Council posted an interesting piece on its blog on the importance of collaboration among educators. It uses the fashion industry as an example of how imitation, whether welcomed or not, drives innovation. "They understand that this openness to copy provides the fuel for rapid innovation and improvement," writes Rene Islas, "the fact that they are free to copy allows them to take a great base product and embellish it in a way that meets the needs and demands of a consumer."
This model provides further support to the ever-growing understanding that teaching can no longer take place behind closed doors. There are not enough hours in the day for teachers to innovate every lesson for every class every day on their own. Instead, we need to rely on one another to provide us with effective strategies, in which we then tailor to our specific students. With an effective professional development program that emphasizes cooperation, perhaps through PLCs, teachers work more efficiently and effectively
