Cooperation vs. Collaboration
Coordination of efforts or integration of ideas?
I recently presented the collaborative projects I’ve organized over the last ten years at Ashley Hall School during the South Carolina Art Educators Association annual conference. It was a wonderful event to attend. I left inspired and energized with many new ideas. My session had a great turnout, and I hope everyone who joined walked away with fresh possibilities to try in their own classrooms.
This post explores an important distinction: the difference between cooperation and collaboration. As art teachers, we are often asked to “collaborate,” but more often than not, what’s really being asked is cooperation, where the arts simply illustrate or support a concept taught in another subject area. There is absolutely value in this kind of work. However, true collaboration is a much deeper, richer experience for students and for the colleagues who engage in it.
Why collaborate?
Collaboration opens the door to thinking beyond our own knowledge. It thrives on curiosity and invites questions like “What if…?” and statements like “Yes, and…” to build momentum. It strengthens connections with students and colleagues alike. These relationships enhance learning in meaningful, lasting ways—shaping not only classroom experiences but the way students see themselves as thinkers, makers, and community members.
How are cooperation and collaboration different?
How to Collaborate
I continued the presentation with examples of collaborative projects from various levels of engagement. I will share these examples in future posts, but here is a graphic to help visualize the various ways we can collaborate with purpose.
