Shared Goals

Ornithologists have observed that flocks of birds have no leaders.  The synchronization of bird flocks appears to be a complex interaction of movement and communication.  Within the flock is constant communication between individuals.  The key to this sophisticated system is shared goals.  Each individual must survive, but the group must also prosper if any individual is to improve their chances as well.  Thus feeding, safety, repositioning to  new areas – all of these are shared goals to help achieve the success of the group. 

So what is the relevance of this information for teachers? 

Complex systems in the natural world are based on a just a few simple rules.  The key element of these rules is this:  every small act is individual but it’s taken from the perspective of the whole. Sticking together each individual might increase his or her own chances of success. 

The success of any school is a human endeavor.  It’s also based on many small acts.  It’s not possible to see the immediate result of every small act but understanding this interconnectedness brings new awareness to what you do every day.

When teachers see themselves not just as individuals but rather as part of a group they will begin to enhance the capacity for student learning.  They can work on building a collaborative school culture.  As a group teachers can implement curriculum, instruction, and assessment. 

In this colloraborative culture teachers create a resource of shared knowledge.  By building shared knowledge all teachers have access to the same pool of information thus increasing the likelihood that they will arrive at the same conclusions. 

Some of the advantages of teachers working in collaborative teams are:

• Gains in student achievement
• Higher quality solutions to problems
• Increased confidence among all staff
• Teachers able to support one another’s strengths and accommodate weaknesses
• Ability to test new ideas
• More support for new teachers
• Expanded pool of ideas, materials and methods.

It’s possible that big things can be accomplished by small acts.  The behavior of birds in the natural world demonstrates this.  We are all connected to this same complex system.   Our future success depends on the ability to recognize that sometimes we is more important than me.