Working Well with Others

Whether it be in school, work, or at home, collaboration is bound to be apart of the activities.  Group projects, task-division, or even making dinner, we all are called to do our part.  The ability to collaborate is a sought after quality since many companies are looking for candidates that are able to work well with others. Learning to work well with others should start as early as it can for students.

Collaboration in Education

Being taught to collaborate begins in schools in order to prepare students to “live and work in an interconnected world” (Keene).  Many students do not understand the process of a collaborated project such as team productivity and the integration of individual knowledge coming together to create the final product (Keene). 

One great tool to utilize collaboration in the classroom is using Microsoft Teams.  An online collaborative workspace that allows for the integration of different ideas without the limitations of meeting in person.  

Opening New Learning Pathways 

Collaborators from all over are prime examples of how beneficial and effective collaboration is when introduced to the classroom.  Atlanta Public Schools are using Minecraft in the classroom appropriately for school with the challenge of answering “How can we envision a connected, equitable and sustainable future that moves Atlanta forward without leaving anyone behind?”  It is a city-wide challenge for the students to virtually explore and learn.  The students are creating solutions together to “re-image, reconfigure, and revitalize notable areas in and around metro Atlanta” (Instructional).  

The challenge consists of:

• Visit and explore downtown Centennial Park, the Stitch, the Beltline, Five Points, the Battery in Cobb County, and the Buford Dam in Gwinnett County.
• Speak with and learn from a variety of experts from the City of Atlanta.
• Design and create solutions to address issues such as:
  • Mobile Transportation
  • Affordable Housing
  • Food Insecurity
  • Environmental Sustainability
• Submit a two-minute video overview of your build

To learn more about the city-wide Minecraft project visit this link https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/70992

Keene, Becky, and Kathi Kersznowski. “Collaborators .” Sail the 7 Cs with Microsoft Education: Stories from around the World to Transform and Inspire Your Classroom, Dave Burgess Consulting, Incorporated, San Diego, 2020.

Instructional Technology / Minecraft Design Challenge, www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/70992. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.