As I read Tom Barrett's three articles i found him to be a very caring and compassionate educator. He began his articles by sharing with other educators tips on introducing on line collaboration to students. He talked about something i think is so important in the classroom which is modeling what you want your students to do. It is not enough to just give an assignment instructors need to demonstrate what is to be done so the student can get a clear picture of how they should be performing to obtain a certain outcome. I also love how he talks about modeling not only the technical side but the communication side as well throughout the entire project.
For me even as a graduate student communication helps me to get a much better understanding of what is expected. In his second article he talks about communication being the key not the tool when putting your students together in groups. He makes a good point that just because students are working together in the same online space does not mean they are collaborating well with each other. In our technical age he points out how important it is to close the computer and talk to each other to make sure everyone in on the same page.
In my classroom I use everything in moderation so that my students will have a balance in using critical thinking along with communication as well as utilizing technology to enhance the process. I also believe when you are introducing new things that some students may never have experienced you need to be patient with them and put them in groups with others who have strong technical skills so they can learn from each other. We fear what we do not know so I think it is important to introduce new technology with a lot of patience and understanding to make sure your students grasp all the techniques.
Boy do I feel your comment, about putting people in groups with others who may have stronger technological skills. This class has introduced me to so much but at times I feel like I am floundering. Being in a group project is intimidating, I do not want to let others down. I look forward to group work though to learn more, and I will definitely remember this feeling going forward when working with my students.
ReplyDeleteBarbara we are all in this together and i understand your floundering feeling, for the most part I am trying to figure out what I am doing after reading the instructions 3 or 4 times. I also ask the Prof. a lot of questions just to make sure i understand what he is look for. I guess that is what learning is all about.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea, the kids are so industrious, I know at my school they are not allowed to use utube, but have figured out a way to get around the blocks. I have yet to get one of them to show me this technique that they are using. I always tell people that the students know more about technology than I do for this very reason. What I really try to concentrate on is making sure that they understand how to be safe on the internet and practice following the rules of Netiquette. Anyway, I thought it funny, your bringing up about your students figuring out how to get around the blocks.
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