Defining Collaborative Partnerships
Abstract
Part of a special issue on collaborative learning partnerships in adult education. Definitions for several terms associated with collaborative partnerships are presented. Collaborative partnerships are distinguished by the fact that the relationship is as important as the knowledge being sought. Kerka has suggested that the key element in successful collaboration is that the people involved must be personally committed to working collaboratively within a relationship that includes patience, trust, and the awareness that the goals will take time to accomplish. Collaborative learning involves organizational or individual entities coming together to acquire or construct new knowledge. Collaborative partnerships occur in the forms of either mentoring or team learning.
