This course is for teachers and head teachers 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 teachers 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 are and whether the effects of their actions are in accordance with their intentions.

The course will give the participants new inspiration for working, learning and innovating in teams to enhance students’ learning. We take a social constructionist approach to give us new insights on the concepts of competence, learning and team work, as well as concrete tools to get started. We will look at tools for clarifying the goals of collaborative teaching/ teamwork, and how to get beyond your own subject and towards the 21st century key competences through collaborative practice. How to de-privatize teaching practice, plan teaching programs collaboratively, give and receive constructive feedback and evaluate the outcome.

Furthermore, we will look at team facilitation and meeting facilitation skills to ensure openness, trust and respect within the team.