The Difference Between Cooperation and Collaboration - Developing Skills to COMBINE Ideas with Peers

This week, Mrs. Fukumoto's third and fourth-grade class was fortunate to have a parent donate a round dinette table for the children to paint. The table will be auctioned off at the "Moon Over Manoa" annual fundraising event.

The children discussed the purpose of the "Moon Over Manoa" event. They determined that the event raises money for the school, and that "it's fun because the choir performs, and the kids get to travel through the hotel together."

As S.C. described the dimensions of the table to the class, the group asked, "What are we going to paint on the table, and how do we all get a turn?" Thus, the class split up into four groups to brainstorm and write down ideas. The students quickly discovered the difficulty of not only cooperating, but collaborating.

Each group had a different approach to brainstorming ideas together. One group immediately started drawing small sketches of the table surface with various MPI logos. Another group was more focused on the process of gathering each person's ideas separately and then voting for the "best" idea. A third group had difficulty as some members dominated the conversation, and some members waited patiently to have their ideas heard.

A fourth group brainstormed symbols that represent Mid-Pacific Institute, such as an owl, plumeria flowers, Manoa valley, a moon, books, buildings, and students. They arranged the symbols in a circular space, and took turns drawing and writing on the list.

Next class, the children will discuss the successes and difficulties they experienced while working in small groups, and further define the difference between cooperation and collaboration. We hope to be painting by next week when the ideas and procedures are in place.

Posted on September 8, 2006 2:08 PM | Permalink