Proof of Life-Collaboration REALLY works

When someone/something is held hostage, those who are paying the ransom to get the hostage back often require "proof of life" that the captive is still alive/viable before payment is transferred so that they can avoid paying for someone/something that is already lost. It seems like teachers and administrators in public schools are waiting for "proof of life" that collaboration is something that they ought to actually embrace instead of just tolerate, or let happen around them but not become engaged with. If you are reading this you have just received your proof of life (you can either click on the title of this post or the proof of life link.)

What you will find is the story of how one of the most respected names in technology hardware, Cisco, has completely transformed the way that it operates and brings products to market. So why is this important in an educational setting? The reason is that the vehicle they have used is collaboration. They have taken all kinds of Web 2.0 tools and used them, internally (for security purposes), and a new compensation system to get rid of all the different executives jockeying for power so that now they are wondering what they can do to help each other out. This sounds like what we do to a limited degree in education already. Teachers share what works and what doesn't, administrators talk about how some process in their building has helped smooth out a rough spot, etc. So where is the difference between education and Cisco?

Cisco has found a way of creating the ultimate PLC, but in the business world instead of in education. In 2008 Cisco's model was able to see a 10 fold increase in new projects with the same or fewer people! What would that look like in education? We could do all of the things that teachers wished we could do, and those that the administration deems important to initiate as well with less stress and higher levels of effectiveness. What does all this take? It takes people talking and sharing in ways that they have never thought about before. Instead of thinking as the 6th grade history teachers at one school, you begin to work as all of the people in the district, state, or country that are interested in a 6th grade history project. You don't put people together based on an organizational chart, but by interest and ability. You truly begin to tap into the potential of the organization as a whole, so that the whole organization can benefit.

But we have tried to do that in the past, but committees like this take up too much time, and people's schedules never seem to match, and its just too much effort. You think John Chambers the CEO at Cisco didn't hear that one a million times while they were going through this shift? He lost 20% of his executives, but the ones that he has now are so effective that where he used to have 2 people in the company that could replace him, now he has like 500. What if you could replicate yourself 250 times within your organization? For most forward thinkers that is one of their greatest wishes (the other is to make sure that some people DON'T replicate!) This level of effectiveness relies on people being able to contribute when they have time, and being able to manage the flow of information and ideas asynchronously (don't have to be face to face.) So think of the best committee you have ever been a part of and then remove the barrier of having to meet all at the same time. Then imagine that committee happening everywhere in your school, district, content area all the time. What kind of service, and oh by the way test scores, could we provide to our students then?