Synergy

When I first started teaching, I was often intimidated by those in education that would use technical language that is rarely used in everyday teaching but is used in research and highly intellectual conversations about education.  Since I was not a classically trained educator, I worked very hard to become fluent in this “edu-speak.”  As my career progressed and I became an administrator, it became fashionable to read business books and to use popular business catchphrases.  Once again, I hit the books, reading Jim Collins, and others so that I could utilize the lingo of business.  In general, I found it easier to use plain language, but there were certain times when “edu-speak” or business lingo really is best.

Synergy was hot in the business world in the early 2000s and I am sure that it is still being used in and around cubicles throughout the world.  To be honest, I am sure that I have used this word many times, but this week, I experienced a synergistic collaboration that would make a case study worthy of business school.

This spring, our elective program is quite robust.  The gardening elective has been hard at work, raising plants from seed, with a grow operation in the Creative Space that would make the Jolly Green Giant proud.  Likewise, our building elective has been working hard to complete the shed that they have been building.  This week, the gardening group was trying to erect raised beds in the garden.  The students from the building elective immediately brought their technical knowledge and experience to the situation and these two electives epitomized a synergistic relationship, as they created two very well-built raised beds. 

At the end of the week, the gardeners went back to their gardening and the builders went back to their shed.  For a few days, however, the synergies created in the elective program maximized and optimized value and output.