Collaboration through social connectedness

Collaboration through social connectedness

This is a topic that cannot be discussed enough these days. For everyone to be successful in education there has to be more collaboration through social connectedness. This includes students, teachers, administration at all levels, parents, and the school board. The entire group and all departments need to interact with each other and come together to achieve a common goal. The goal of closing and bridging the gaps in education that we are seeing. We need to change the culture we are seeing in education and completely revamp the structure and learning environment for our learners. We have to create a learning environment where the kids can have fun and learn by creating their own authentic learning without teachers having to abide by all these strict rules in fear of being reprimanded. This is no longer working and the education system is failing our children and the future leaders of the world. Social connectedness works when everyone works together for one common goal. 

We have to promote student-faculty-administration-family interactions. This will increase student responsibility and help build their self-esteem. The students will learn how to develop social and communication skills, develop higher-level thinking, and self-management skills while taking responsibility for their own learning. We need our parents to be back on board with their students' success and foster that love of learning at home as well. We need our parents involved and I feel the only way to do this is to improve and increase those social connections. Give parents the opportunity to volunteer for more events or come and see what their child is doing in class or send projects home that can be showcased at school events. Encourage parents to help them and show up to these events. 

We need to give our students more time to collaborate with their peers on a daily basis. There needs to be more group work or discussions. Of course, there need to be guidelines that have to be followed, but after discussing these with the students we need to step back and let them guide themselves. Let them take ownership or their learning and work with their peers. Self-evaluating and taking feedback from other groups. We can include roles that will be switched daily so they can build different skills and learn from each other. They will build those bonds with their classmates and form connections which will help inspire them. I feel if we give them the time to build these connections, we will see them thrive in this new environment which is necessary for them to build the skills they need to succeed in the future.