Watch the video which shows a head teacher, an Assistant DRCC and a DESO talking about the benefits of collaborative working for teachers, and therefore for learners. As you watch, make notes on how the speakers see collaboration helping
teachers in Kabwe and Chisamba.
CHRISTINE MALONGA: The teachers in Nkwashi work together when they are planning their lessons. They plan
together. And at the same time, when they are monitoring, after planning, they get back to class. Each one
implements what was planned.
Then after planning and getting to class to trial what was agreed in the meeting, there's monitoring, peer
monitoring of the strategies that we discussed in the group. So, they've been working together in those areas so
that they see how they can help the learners and also improve the classroom environment.
When it comes to some of the strategies, like use of the local environment, they have to do it together. They
also, when before getting to class, with the strategy of questioning, they actually sit, look at which questions
are higher order, which ones are lower order questions so that before they actually get to the classroom to
teach, each one of them is familiar with this strategy.
And in the end, the child benefits because they'll be participatory learning when the strategies are implemented.
There is collaborative teaching, planning. And I would say there's been more-- I don't know if there's such a
word as togetherness in the way they are doing their work.
One is more dependent on the other. So that together they can see how pupils of a particular grade can be
assisted so that they all achieve the best and move to the next grade with better results.
PHILIS MABONA: There's a lot of teacher collaboration because teachers usually consult one another when planning
their lessons. And usually, in CPDs, that's where you find them asking questions as to how one would teach that
lesson, the different approaches that one can involve in the lesson, and even how to introduce, go about the
development and the conclusion. So, they are working together
PAXINA MWENYA: As a District Education Standards Officer, when we go out monitoring, there are quite a number of
changes that we have observed. For instance, I'll give one. Where you find teachers, when they were doing their
preparations, and then they had challenges with certain topics.
But then, instead of consulting others, such teachers would do-- you would find that maybe they would skip such a
topic. But as it is now, since they have that provision of consulting each other, wherever they have a
challenge, they consult a fellow teacher. And they plan together the best way in order to handle such a topic.
And the very teacher who handled that topic very well, instead of just leaving the topic hanging. So, pupils are
benefiting. Even the teachers themselves are benefiting.
When you have watched, compare your notes with your partner. When you agree on all the benefits, share your ideas with another pair.
Finally, as a group, compile a list of the benefits of working collaboratively.