Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely. Try to base the collaboration within the community, creating a life-long learning environment for all. Be sensitive to the different cultures, styles and needs of partners. Be sensitive to time and place of meetings. Teachers time constraints involve release time, availability of substitutes, scheduling classes, not overloading weekends and weekday evenings.
Schools can look into scheduling to create free blocks of time during the school day.
Innovative approaches may include students visiting university or community facilities with graduate students as substitute teachers while teachers are at meetings. Maintain open, easily accessible means of horizontal and vertical communication, and use these communication channels to share all information openly among partners. Compensate staff and instructors fairly and share resources. Engage unlikely participants people who have never before exhibited interest in such collaboration. Alternative or even contrary views add an important dimension to a partnership.