Week 3 - collaborative tools

What are some ways that you can create authentic collaborative projects in your current/future classroom? Please provide specific examples.

Wikis and blogs are two options I would use to provide an opportunity for my students to work collaboratively. A Wiki would be an excellent place for the students to share resources, make decisions and discuss. There are many advantages using a Wiki besides it being easy to use and learn. The students can edit each other’s findings or add information. Since Wikis are instantaneous, there is no need to wait for the publisher or the teacher to create a new edition or update information (WikiEducator, 2010). Also, the wiki has no pre-determined structure and is a flexible tool, which can be used for a wide range of applications (Wikieducator Tutorials, 2011). The project I will embark my students on is the solar system. With the Wiki my students would be able to “build connections, demonstrate relationships, and in general develop understandings about complex concepts” (Schrum & Levin, 2009, p. 20). Besides, they can share their ideas with other students outside the classroom.

The second method that I would want my students to use is to carry out this task is the use of blogs. The students will be divided into groups of three and will be assigned to find information on different planets. Once students have found the information, they will have to show the connections or electronic links to the other group’s activities. Photos, images could be submitted via their blogs too. Students will then be regrouped to complete the task of creating a documentary using the facts to describe the characteristics of the nine different planets and post the documentary on their own blogs.

The collaborative tools, Wikis and blogs are parallel to the requirement of the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S), specifically the use of Technology Productivity Tools. These collaborative tools will enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity and use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, preparing” (ISTE, 2007) publications, and producing other creative works. The use of the collaborative tools will enhance students’ knowledge and the ability to interpret to technology tools.

The knowledge of the 21st century learners is shaped by the environment. Collaborative tools and interacting with others is one way to gain knowledge because students are able to learn from the more knowledgeable other. This would help students to become proficient users of technology and they would be able to gather more information, either form their classmates or students form different classroom or from global students.


REFERENCE

WikiEducator. (2010). Advantages and disadvantages Retrieved. June 13 2011 from
http://wikieducator.org/Wikieducator_tutorial/What_is_a_wiki/Advantages_and_disadvantages

Schrum, L., & Levin, B. B. (2009). 21st century schools: Harnessing technology for engagement and achievement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin

ISTE. (2007). National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS-S). Retrieved. June 13, 2011 from
http://www.comfsm.fm/national/administration/VPA/researchdocs/techPlan/ISTE%20National%20Educational%20Technology%20Standards.pdf