I believe that we do have the basic instinct that leads us to interactions and collaborations with others. We are smarter in numbers and often learn from each other as we are collaborating. Wikipedia is a resource that is created by learners constructing meaning and sharing knowledge as they contribute to Wikipedia. Participants are definitely engaged in the process and build on the ideas of others as they add to the encyclopedia. There are unlimited web 2.0 resources as a result of this instinct and desire to collaborate and support others. Howard Rheingold's video was entertaining and engaging as he made some great points about how things are accomplished as people interact with each other to solve problems and create products.
Technology, used in K-12 education, was mostly used passively to process information, whereas now, it is often used to facilitate the exchange of ideas. Technology provides multiple ways to present information so that individual learning styles and choices are made available. "Technology can facilitate the collaboration process by linking together individuals who share a common interest and goal" (Brown). This collaboration is a key part of the constructivist approach to learning. Technology allows learners to build on their past experiences, construct meaning from information, solve real-world problems, and create exemplars individually or collaboratively. Technology also allows students to contribute at a time of their choosing, when they are feeling creative or when they are touched by an idea.
I found an extremely interesting article about a study completed on a school in California focusing on collaborative problem-based math and discussion based English leading to top SAT scores for entrance to colleges. The link is http://www.edutopia.org/stw-collaborative-learning-research and the article is from Eutopia. Some of the strategies that are highlighted by these educators are approaches that I had not considered. These strategies are: "Consider classroom geography, focus on process, not the right answers, build in accountability to each other, let students teach each other, and encourage students to be in tune with each other" (Vega & Terada, 2012). I had never considered modeling examples of engaged listeners and feel this would be extremely beneficial for my 7th grade students.
References
Brown. (n.d.). Calpro-Online. Retrieved from ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education: http://www.calpro-online.org/eric/docs/brown/brown01_05.pdf
Vega, V., & Terada, Y. (2012, 12 5). Research Supports Collaborative Learning. Retrieved from Edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/stw-collaborative-learning-research
I have commented on the following blogs:
http://loridodd.blogspot.com/ Lori Dodd
http://castanosblogs.blogspot.com/ Joseline Castanos
Karen
ReplyDeleteThe statement you posted "Technology can facilitate the collaboration process by linking together individuals who share a common interest and goal" (Brown). is so true. I always seem to get better results with collaboration when the students have something in common. I often help students make new friends by putting them in collaboration with someone that they are not friends with and then say to them something like "John, did you know that Tyler plays ice hockey in Pittsburgh also?" Sometimes just one statement like that can help the students decide that they would be good together and they do excellent work". Do you ever do that with your students? What strategies do you have to help your students want to work together and do the best work that they can?
Karen,
ReplyDeleteI found the same article from Edutopia showing the benefits of collaboration. That research was conducted at a high school level. All of the research I have been able to find was conducted 6-12. Since I teach in a K-5 environment, do you believe these results can occur through collaboration with younger children?
Sarita
Very interesting Karen,
ReplyDeleteTechnology has most definitely taken K12 education to the next level with collaboration. It has allowed my students who take me at different times of the day to collaborate and communicate through discussion boards, wikispaces, and online classrooms. Constructive learning theories are built on collaboration and pbls. Since I teach ESL I know that technology is the one thing that unites all students, no matter what language they speak.