This course is for teams of managers from primary and secondary education who are in the process of implementing, developing or improving the team work of teachers or collaborative teaching practice. We strongly encourage more managers from the same school to participate together to facilitate the learning transfer after the course.

Collaborative teaching involves two or more teachers working together to lead, instruct and mentor groups of students, often working cross-disciplinary and focusing on the 21st century key competences (such as collaboration and creative and innovative thinking). Collaborative teaching and professional learning communities among teachers can enhance students’ performance and well-being. Through collaboration teachers develop themselves, their own teaching practice and their common approaches to go beyond traditional subjects and to deal better with classes or students in difficulties. Professional learning communities is about building a reflective and innovative practice, where teachers constantly inquire into the aims of their work, their success criteria, and whether the effects of their actions are in accordance with their intentions.

The management of the school has a great responsibility in the transition towards creating professional learning communities and collaborative teaching. Both in ensuring that the mission and vision is clear, its translation into daily tasks, as well as in providing the time, space, culture and competences. Furthermore, the management must model the cooperation they would like to see among teachers. The course will look at all these factors as well as give time and space for the teams of participants to tailor a plan that fits their specific school.