Unit 2: Technology and Collaboration
Course Homepage: Collaborative Learning with Technology
Unit 2: Technology and Collaboration
Materials:
- A word processing program to take notes and complete assignments
Course Objectives:
- The educator will be able to identify situations where technology and the tools available through technology will support collaborative learning.
Lecture
- As we have discussed in Unit 1 collaboration places learners in situations which cause the individuals to work as a group to build their knowledge. The ability of the group to have ideas which are diverse while still yielding some sort of consensus of knowledge building is the key to successful collaboration. In addition, the task at hand must also lend itself to supporting collaboration by avoiding activities which promote individual work rather than that of a group. Finally, the sharing of knowledge and ideas is important for the group to be able to function collaboratively. There is always group collaboration in class where students can work together to learn from each other, but is it possible to move this collaboration beyond the confines classroom?
- Technology is playing an ever increasing role in our society; with this in mind it is important that we find ways to incorporate it into education. The students in our classes will be expected to have the technology skills necessary to compete in the global workforce of the 21st century. Using technology to support collaboration is an excellent way to help prepare students for life in society. In addition to just using the technology in the future students will also be collaborating with others from aground the world via technology in this global society.
- By using various technologies teachers can move collaboration from the classroom to the homes of students or any place in which students can access the internet. By using various programs and tools collaborative learning no longer needs to occur face to face taking up valuable class time. Additionally, homework assignments can now take on greater value in the learning process, rather than readings and worksheets. Let’s take some time to look at some of the various technology tools and how they might work in the classroom.
- Knowledge Forum: Knowledge Forum is a program designed to promote collaboration in the knowledge building sense. This program will allow users to interact with each other to form new knowledge based on what they already think and know. It starts with a blank knowledge base where users can post their knowledge and ideas. Then each user can connect their ideas with others, form new ideas, and bring their knowledge to a new level. Scaffolds such as “my theory” or “putting our knowledge together” help the users connect and add to ideas in the knowledge base. Knowledge Forum will also allow knowledge bases to be shared beyond one group for collaboration with other classrooms in the same school or far away. This is an internet based program which would require the necessary hardware and software to access the internet. The main drawback to this technology is it is a paid program which requires a subscription which could limit a school’s ability to fully incorporate it.
- Texting: We are constantly trying to prevent students from texting while in class, so why not engage this interest in technology and use it for educational purposes? Having students collaborate via text is a great way to incorporate technology and student interests into curriculum. Students can share ideas instantaneously with others, yet can save messages to reply later once they have allowed some time to reflect. There are a few drawbacks to trying to incorporate texting. The first is that there is no way for the teacher to see all of the messages to keep an eye on the level of collaboration. Also, texting requires a cellular phone with texting capabilities, which may be unavailable to some students based on family situations.
- Blackboard: Blackboard is a program which is widely available in many school districts who subscribe to the service. In Blackboard instructors can create courses for each class they teach in which students can have access to a variety of information posted by the instructor from videos to articles and handouts. There are discussion spaces where users can post responses to discussion questions and others can read and reply to the posts. In the discussion space knowledge building flourishes because users have time to read, digest, and respond to posts with thoughtful ideas and comments often linking knowledge. Blackboard also has a chat feature so that live chats may be held between groups or the whole class. The advantages to Blackboard are that instructors can post various media to aid students and there is a record of interactions. Blackboard’s main detractor is that it is a program that requires a subscription.
- Blogs: Blogs are also potentially useful technology for collaboration because they allow for asynchronous communication of not only text but various media as well. In a blog the user can create posts which can be subscribed to by others and commented upon. The ability to add various media allows students to elaborate their ideas beyond the confines of text. The blog can function much like a discussion board. Blogs such as Blogger are free to anyone with access to the internet. The major drawback is that blogs are open for anyone to read which might cause problems with student privacy issues.
- Youtube: Youtube can solve some of the face to face problems that discussion boards and other text based technologies lack. By creating an account users can create videos with a webcam and microphone to share with others. Users can subscribe to other users, which would be those with whom they are collaborating. This allows the users the ability to communicate verbally as well as visually to illustrate the points they are trying to make. This can be done with just about any computer with an internet connection and the necessary hardware. The major drawback to using this with students is that videos are posted to the internet with no way to limit who can view the content; this can be especially troublesome in terms of privacy and confidentiality for students.
- Video Chats: Much like Youtube video chats can bring back the face to face interaction that many other technologies lack. Video chats using a webcam and microphone allow for face to face interaction without the need to be in the same place. Chats can have as little as two participants. The general idea of the chat would be no different than a discussion that occurs within a classroom. Programs such as Skype are free to anyone with internet access and provide video chatting capabilities. Skype allows for conference calling but not for group video chatting. iChat part of the Apple operating system does allow for multiple users to chat with each other at one time. One drawback to video chats is that participants need to be online at the same time.
- The above technologies are just a handful of the tools available to educators. Teachers need only to be creative thinkers in order to find new technologies that can be used to support collaboration. While looking at technology it is important to remember a few criteria: is it easily accessible? is there a cost? can students use the technology without much instruction? is technology truly enhancing this lesson? These are just a few ideas of how evaluate technologies for use in collaboration. Next you will take a look at the various technologies for collaboration.
Activity:
Take some time to look at the programs and tools discussed above. Also, take some time to search for other tools that might also support collaboration. In your notes reflect on: similarities, effectiveness, possible problems, and why students would be interested in the technology.
Discussion:
Click on the discussion tab for this page and post a question or comment that relates to the discussion question:
What are some activities that you currently do or could develop that use technology to support collaboration? What tools do you use?
Once you have completed all the tasks for Unit 2 proceed to the next unit.