This week we were asked
to reflect on cooperative learning and some technology that was presented in
our book.
First, what is
cooperative learning? Cooperative
learning is the process of learning as a group (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). The group’s understanding of a subject grows
together. They receive the same grade,
thus making peers responsible for peers.
No longer is the teacher the only expert in the room. One interesting fact from the reading was
that the groups should be long-term (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski,
2007). This makes sense, in that within
the class students need to develop a small family that they can rely on. Together they will work through assignments
and complete tasks. They will not always
work with this group, but they are considered their base group.
Available technology
today assists students when working with any type of group. Being able to research what experts in any
field have to say about certain topics is an amazing tool. Imagine being a student in a small town, and
being able to ask an expert about their understanding of a specific disease through
e-mail. What seems simple to me – the ability
to go see the doctor in his office (I live across from a hospital) - is not
simple for many students. Technology is
allowing for this communication.
Global telecommunication
networks assist with group communication today.
Conference calling, or video conference calling, used to be the only way
to speak with people who were not in the same area as you. Now, teachers and students can communicate with
people across the world using keypals such as epals.com, worldkids.net, and
Skype (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). Think about being able to speak with someone
who lives in China while doing a report on the country! How helpful and enlightening the experience
would be. Students would be more likely
to remember that experience in comparison to a lecture by a teacher who stats “this
is what you need to know about China.” I
wish I could use networks more, I just cannot think of ways to use it in my
math classes! Any assistance in this
area would be helpful.
One topic my students
often struggle with is organization and prioritizing – especially my freshman
male students. To assist all my
students, and parents, I keep an up-to-date Google calendar with upcoming
assessments, homework, and school related activities. While the link is on the class website
(wiki), many parents and students ask for the link in order to link the class calendar
to their personal calendar. While it
does not touch their lack of notebook organization, it is one step in the right
direction!
I defiantly can say
Blackboard.com is an example of social learning. The discussion boards allow for quick peer
review and input. The ‘base group’ is
set up by the teacher, though in my case the base group has previously been
either a blog group or discussion group.
Obviously, teachers can tailor it to their needs within their
classrooms. Has anyone used Moodle.org
or globalschoolnet.org? These were two
mentioned in our reading and I know nothing about them. Our district is going to blackboard this
upcoming school year and I am very excited about it – though I personally hope
they work all the kinks out first.
Do
the above technologies help students acquire and integrate learning? I would say yes, if chosen
appropriately. Social interaction with technology is the
future. We must prepare students for the
future, while also appealing to their learning styles. They will be the ones assisting us in just a
few years. Educators might be the worst
critics when it comes to social learning though. We are stuck in our classrooms for seven or
more hours a day, with little to no collaboration occurring. Yes, there are great websites that assist
with collaboration, but who has the time to look at them once you sign up for
the free membership? Maybe we should
reflect on ourselves within this process.
What is your districts and/or school doing to assist you in finding time
for personal social learning?
Resources
Laureate
Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program eight: Social learning theories
[Video webcast]. Bridging learning
theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., &
Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with
classroom instruction that works. Alexandria,
VA: ASCD.
Voicethread link: https://voicethread.com/?#q.b3144763.i16691552
Voicethread link: https://voicethread.com/?#q.b3144763.i16691552
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteI have been trained to use Moodle. It is a great tool, however, I find it to be complicated. I use Edmodo.com because it is very user friendly,easy to set up and has the features that I want without a lot of fuss. Mostly I use it because I can throw something on very quickly without a lot of time. Moodle has a lot more features, however, you need to consider whether those features are something that you want to use. Moodle connects to a Google Apps account which makes it great for collaborative projects. Both Edmodo and Moodle have capabilities for uploading assignments, giving quizzes, setting up groups for the purpose of discussion and collaboration, and uploading files and links to store in the library. Edmodo has the same layout as Facebook, so students can readily interface with it, however, Moodle is set up more like a Blackboard and more similar to what students would be exposed to in college.
Moodle is more complicated and requires a lot more time to train to use and get comfortable with. Once I found Edmodo, I didn't use Moodle any longer, just for the fact that I didn't want to take the time to get 'good at' using Moodle. My school has a separate server set up to use Moodle and that makes it easier to manage bandwidth. Since it is available at my school, I plan to play with it a little more over the summer, but I just haven't wanted to take the time to maneuver through it when Edmodo is so user friendly.
As far as providing time for learning technology, my school is working on that. There has been training made available to interested staff on Moodle and we starting PLC's next year to help teachers evaluate lesson delivery and student engagement.
Lauri
Danielle, I too have struggled with finding accepted technology components to incorporate in the classroom. I do find a good deal of elementary school ideas, but not so much with our math II class ( which entails: geometry, trig, Alg. and statistics).
ReplyDeleteThis is a bit off topic but then again, not so much. We were "awarded" (if you wish to call it that- I call it a nightmare) a STEM grant with all of this high dollar technology for the science, vocational and math departments. Do not get me wrong, some of it has come in handy. Although, in order for the school to get this enormous check they get from the "STEM grant people"(that is who I know them as), we must put on a dog and pony show ever so often incorporating this technology. The problem has been, they give us dates that they are coming to evaluate, and it does not matter what standard or lessons you are working on... You drop everything, and cater the visitors. They give a week in advance notice; you could be in the middle of preparing kids for the EOCT; it does not matter to them. You lose a day or two of crucial review time, to show them an activity that is cross curriculm and using the technology pieces they gave the school. To me, this is not using technology for the sake of the kids; when we are pressed for time as it is. This did happen to us towards the end of the school year, prior to EOCTs.
YOu point out great technology ideas that incorporate the social learning theory. Yes, lord, even this Black Board business in an example of SLT and usage of technology. I love the idea of being able to actually chat with someone from another country. However, if they do not speak English, our conversation would be a very brief one. You point out so many technology pieces that can enhance the student's social learning.
Your Blog kept me engaged. Thanks for sharing
Lori,
DeleteI understand the nightmare with the grant. We too received a grant for technology. One of our instructional teachers ended up using an iPad to video our students using the technology, as well as their responses while using the technology. This satisfied many of the requirements the "people" have been looking for. I agree that lessons do not revolve around the technology - but enhance - and that every day is not a technology day. I would suggest using a video camera to make a movie about what the students are currently using the technology on.
For chatting with people from another county - there are websites that change the language for you. I imagine even the penpals will do this.
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more that this society not only provides us with a vast array of technology tools that promote the social learning theory but they thrive on them. Global communication is not only an asset but a vital role in our societies workforce and therefore should play a role in education. you made some very excellent points in your post and i was very intrigued as I read it. I like that you keep your students up to date with assignments and class information through a class wiki. This is something that I would like to incorporate next year. do you also have students post to this wiki by responding to questions or providing feedback to other students, or also working in groups to complete a task? I have not incorporated wikis or blogs to my classes yet but am very intrigued by them and agree that they are very good communication tools. Any feedback or suggestions on experiences with these tools is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your well written informative post.
Daniela
Daniela,
DeleteThis is my class website: https://daniellemcdonaldhfa.wikispaces.com/
I currently do not have it set up for them to post, but it is something I could start doing. I hope the blackboard will allow for more questioning opportunities.
My suggestion is to set one up and go for it! You will tweak things here and there as time goes and as you receive student feedback, but having one if the first place (and using it) will be a first step.