Professors Model Collaboration

This article is about a group of professors in the Department of Special Education at the University of North Florida (UNF) who designed a course for their students that is made to help future teachers with collaboration. These professors believe that people teach in ways that they are taught and that it is important to make sure that future teachers know the value of collaboration and how to have successful collaboration. The professors model collaboration in the course at a university level and encourage their students, pre-service teachers, to think collaboratively in order for successful outcomes in their future classroom settings. The course was not taught by one professor, but by all professors at UNF in the field of special education
True collaboration is not common in elementary and secondary classrooms. Sadly, it is rare within or among departments at most universities to have fully successful collaboration. In order to have an increase in students’ performance in both the general and special education settings, both special and general educators need to collaborate and share their expertise to see positive results. The responsibility for every students’ education is shared by all professionals in the school. Collaboration ensures that all professionals are working closely with one another for the common goal of the students. With collaboration being integrated into these students learning through this course at UNF, the pre-service teachers are preparing for inclusionary practices that can lead to improved student learning. When IDEA was reauthorized, there was a call for collaboration and for inclusion. Students with disabilities are to be educated in their least restrictive environment (LRE) and collaboration makes this possible. Without collaboration, educators and professionals that work together on students IEPs would not be able to make the best decisions for their students to be successful in their educational