What Makes Collaborative Planning Important

Teaching can be very demanding. For that matter, most teachers seek ways to meet the demand, that is to say, quality teaching-learning. Quite often teachers feel frustrated because it seems hard for them to find the most appropriate method to apply in their teaching, so that the basic learning goals-engagement, meaningfulness and impactful-can be reached. 

A lot of research have been conducted to find ways to meet the demand. However, almost all researchers, experts as well as practitioners in any kind of fields of study agree that collaboration is the  key. A lot of journals state that collaboration is at the heart of quality work. According to their experiences, collaboration results in a huge and splendid idea. Therefore, collaboration has now become an international concern. It has even become one of the skills that experts suggest to build as one of the basic learner profile characteristics to be able to face the future that is more globalized.

In terms of teaching, collaboration, is best applied when teachers are in the stage of planning. Why? Because, a good program or learning activity will run well if it is well-designed and prepared. Therefore, I believe that all teachers should put this into their priority before teaching in class. 

From my personal perspective, collaborative planning brings many positive impacts as follow:

1. Each collaborator will get motivational support if there are drawbacks. They may share what happens in class and show empathy and care with one another.

2. Each collaborator will have more time to design the most appropriate and applicable activities in the class.

3. Each collaborator will have the same opportunity to share their knowledge to help the others manage their classroom activities.

4. The discussion will be rich in ideas since all ideas are collected and then to be discussed to find the most appropriate one.

5. The decision will be more appropriate and suit the learning and students best. 

6. Collaborative planning leaves teachers some space for flexibility, if there is an agreement among the teachers. This flexibility gives them space to innovate independently.

7. The decided activity will be the stepping stone for the next discussion in the planning. Then teachers can reflect on them and then create a better innovation.