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By Learning Forward
Categories: Collaboration
April 2013
We Need to Talk Productive conversations are a central element of collaborative learning, and, in many cases, those conversations are difficult because of disagreements and conflicts. Here are resources that tackle how to approach contentious conversations. Many include tools and protocols, and each offers a particular framework to guide how to handle this tough topic. Courageous Conversations About Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools  By Glenn E. Singleton and Curtis Linton Selected as NSDC’s book of the year in 2006, this book is written from a professional learning context in schools. Singleton and Linton offer a framework to encourage educators to examine their beliefs about race openly to reach solutions for offering all students equitable learning opportunities in schools. The authors build on a frame of

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Trust

Trust is crucial to open and productive collaboration. Studies indicate a relationship between trusting relationships in schools and higher student achievement. In their work exploring trust in schools, Wayne Hoy and Megan Tschannen-Moran define five elements of trust:
Benevolence

Confidence that one’s well-being or something one cares about will be protected by the trusted party … the assurance that others will not exploit one’s vulnerability or take advantage even when the opportunity is available.

Honesty

The trusted person’s character, integrity, and authenticity … acceptance of responsibility for one’s actions and not distorting the truth in order to shift blame to another.

Openness

The extent to which relevant information is shared … openness signals reciprocal trust.

Reliability 

Consistency of behavior and knowing what to expect from others … a sense of confidence that one’s needs will be met in positive ways.

Competency

The ability to perform as expected and according to standards appropriate to the task at hand.

Explore these ideas and related tools in a 2010 issue of Tools for Schools, available at https://bit.ly/10VX870.
Source: Hoy, W.K. & Tschannen-Moran, M. (2003). The conceptualization and measurement of faculty trust in schools. In W. Hoy & C. Miskel (Eds.), Studies in leading and organizing schools (pp. 181-208). Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing.

Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.


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