Teachers' Perceptions of Collaboration

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: Exploring Forms of Collaboration Among Educators

Abstract

This qualitative study examined teachers' perceptions of collaboration within their schools in a Northeastern state in the US. This research is part of a larger study of a state-wide, high-stakes teacher evaluation system. Teachers were surveyed more broadly about teacher evaluation, and there were four open-ended items, one of which was focused on collaboration. This item was the focus of this study. A total of 1336 teachers responded to this survey item. The responses were evaluated through the lens of the professional capital framework. Findings included themes of time, administrator relationships, pockets of collaboration, and inclusion versus isolation. Responses reflected aspects of teachers’ experiences that both enhanced and hindered the development of social and decisional capital.

Authors

• Jeremy D. Visone, Central Connecticut State University

• Maria Boeke Mongillo, Central Connecticut State University

• Yan Liu, University of North Carolina - Wilmington