2+Connect+Peers+With+Purpose

= SECRET TWO: CONNECT PEERS WITH PURPOSE =

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Current conditions in technology and our globally shrinking world allow more people to interact and share ideas for the better of all. **Connecting peers with a purpose** doesn't mean getting people of similar values or goals together, it **means creating three conditions** which will lead to the best for an organization and all of the stake holders. Fullan points out: "Purposeful peer interaction, or perhaps I should say //positive// purposeful peer interaction, works effectively under three conditions: ** (1) when the larger values of the organization and those of individuals and groups mesh **; (** 2) when information and knowledge about effective practices are widely and openly shared **; and ** (3) when monitoring mechanisms are in place to detect and address ineffective actions while also identifying and consolidating effective practices **." (p.45) To get the most out of these interactions people understand two types of competition. There is the bad which has I win and you lose mentality and the good which has the how can we both get better, but I want to improve as much as I can. This concept brings Fullan to his idea of the ** We-We solution ** which include the ** above higher purpose or cause **, ** knowledge for all **, and ** identifying with the one entity larger than oneself **. This is an idea which companies can realize the future and help encourage each other at different levels creating self-accountability for longer sustained growth which is better than the short term quick win coming from the hierarchy approach.

Applying this to schools is simple. Having ** time for teachers to collaborate **, ** share their best practices **, and **interact regarding their practice** will have long term beneficial effects. This can happen at a school, district, and state level depending on the various sizes of staff. The most challenging portion for schools is the third step of having ** monitoring mechanisms ** in place to ** detect what worked and what didn't **. Many forms reflecting on a conference are written, how many are reflected on and shared with the community at large. This will tie in with a later secret, however holds importance for all librarians. Librarians experience more interaction and collaboration than others in the school, but are they constantly reflecting with the collaborators and putting forth the knowledge to all? How often are librarians collaborating at the various levels? When viewing the teacher librarian profession of the future, AASL's Empowering Learners views instructional partner as the number one role. Fullan's ideas regarding positive purposeful peer interaction can guide a teacher librarian on how to create the best win-win situation for all stakeholders.