To gain insight into the nature of cooperative and collaborative processes and to contribute information to those considering similar research, an effort was initiated by a school district and a research center to work together in a "collaborative" mode. It was anticipated that the needs of the school district would be addressed, that the goals of the research center would be met, and that a descriptive model for collaboration would emerge. This paper presents a brief sampling of the literature on such joint efforts, a narrative of the context and events of the case study, an analysis and identification of the components and relationships required for both cooperation and collaboration, and descriptive models of cooperation and collaboration with predicted outcomes of each. Although the attempt at collaboration failed, it provided insight into the natures of collaboration and cooperation. Interinstitutional cooperation is a model wherein one institution is primarily involved in the task and the results fill that organization's needs. In contrast, collaboration involves both institutions in a shared task and provides mutually rewarding gains. Additional benefits also accrue in collaborative relationships. (Author/IRT)