We started brainstorming what we would like the final exam project to be in our Biology classes. Our collaboration is an odd dance, really, but it works for us. It starts out silently, with me thinking and writing and scratching out and complaining that I need more time to think and then me walking around somewhere trying to get ideas to shake loose and solidify in my head.
And then the talking begins. She and I bounce ideas of each other, tell each other to stop when we get confused, we clarify, we shake our heads, we disagree, we nod in agreement with ideas, and we scribble things down so our brains won't forget them, and we cross things out. Sometimes we make "ooooWEEooo" noises when we both have the same idea at the same time, and screaming often erupts when we get excited about an idea we have ("FAMILY TREES OF THE FUTURE! THAT'S IT!"). And then we scribble some more.
But that's just how we collaborate. It's what we do, it's how we've learned to operate after 6 years together.
It's how we've learned to learn from each other, because true collaboration is learning.