This week’s resources and discussions were focused around the topic of social learning theories. With these theories, it is thought that students learn through working with peers while building and creating artifacts.
In the text, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, I read about different technology tools that can be used in the classroom to build collaboration and cooperation between groups and peers.
One type of technology that I feel really emphasizes cooperative learning and social learning theories are WebQuests. “WebQuests are inquiry-orientated activities that allow students in a class or from multiple locations to work together to learn about a particular subject or to tackle a particular project or problem (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007, pg. 145). Just like the above quote states, I feel that WebQuests are a great way to have students team up to complete a project. Students need to do research and read through online links to help them answer questions and create a completed project using the information that they gained. I found a website that gives a good introduction of WebQuests and also has some other websites which can be helpful for a teacher beginning to use WebQuests.
Using a WebQuest in your Classroom
Wikis are also something that was discussed in Chapter 7 of the text. Wikis are a great technology tool that can be used in the classroom to allow students to communicate and work together. Wikis are a great tool because they can be used at any time and can be used by many students from different places. All of the students need to add information to the wiki in order for it to be a successful and complete project.
VoiceThread is another program that I have been learning about this week. I feel that VoiceThread can be used as a starting point for students to be introduced to new problem-based, cooperative learning project in my classroom. I created a VoiceThread that I will use after I have completed my simple machines unit with my class. Through this VoiceThread, students will learn about the project they will need to complete in groups to solve the problem of trapping a leprechaun. Take a look and tell me what you think!
Leprechaun Trap
References:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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Mrs. Rogus,
ReplyDeleteI also believe that a Webquest is a valuable tool that allows students to communicate and work together to achieve a common goal. I think it would be great to use in the computer lab so that all of the students have a computer.
Have you used Webquests in your classroom? If so, what has been the best method for you: all of the students with a computer or a group working on one computer? At my school we only go to the computer lab during activity time, therefore I am not in there with them. However, I do have 4 computers in my room. Do you think they would be able to use these computers to complete a Webquest? Thanks for your feedback.
Ashley
E. Rogus,
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology is a great tool used in collaboration. I enjoyed your voice thread about the leprechaun. Great use of a collaboration tool and using the social learning theory. I also liked how you related it to another learning theory of constructionism. You have instructed the students to create an artifact using instructions from your voice thread.
I believe that in order to be creative in our classes, it is going to take a lot of work on our part. However, I believe it to be worth it. I am involved in some workshops this week and one involved a collection of websites some of which were web quests. I left the paper at school. When I get it, I will post more for my colleagues and leave a comment here for you.
Mrs. Rogus,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like we are on the same page in regard to social learning through technology. Recently, I've been utilizing Web quests and the students really enjoy learning in this visually pleasing interactive manner. I usually allow them to work with partners and most of the time as I walk around the room, I can hear them working out problems and finding their answers together. My question to you is how do you curtail or deal with inappropriate usage of the computer? Many times my students are on sites they should not be visiting.
-Mike
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteNo, I have not used WebQuests before in my classroom but would like to try one next year. I always thought that WebQuests were a tool that older students used, not students in the primary grades. After doing more searching this week on WebQuests, I noticed that WebQuests can work for many grade levels and I think my students could really benefit from using them with peers. I was trying to think about what I would do next year and I think it may be hard to have groups of students all around one computer. Maybe pairs of students could work together on them, or if you want larger groups on one WebQuest, just have students split up the work on the computers and then they all create a final product together. Having individual students work on computer would work too, but I think that takes away from the social aspect of WebQuests and for me, some of my students would need a partner to help with reading. Hope these answers help!
Rhonda,
That would be great to be able to see your collection of WebQuests that you received. I would like to look into some of them some more this summer. I believe that being creative and creating these engaging activities does take a lot of work, but you are right. It is very worth it in the end to see the students and what they have gained from completing the activities.
Mike,
I am not sure if something like this would work for you, but in our resources this week they had a link for the website del.icio.us (http://del.icio.us). You can bookmark a set of websites on this one so that they are all in one place for students. Or, put them on your favorites tab if you have computers in your room. By having all of the websites in one place, students would not have to do any searching. This may help in making sure students stay on appropriate websites.
Thanks for all of the comments!
Elizabeth
E. Rogus,
ReplyDeleteI found that list of websites that may be useful for you. One is called www.sqworl.com. This is a web page where one can collect several different websites that they use often. It is kind of like a favorites page for websites and webquests, but it shows a picture of the home page to remind you of what it is. There is a site www.collabedit.com, where students can write storis together. Another creative site is www.makebeliefscomix.com where students can write comics to explain ideas. I have several more but these are a few that use collaborative ideas.
I really liked the website you added to your post. I never viewed that site before! I like how it breaks it down into steps and that each block has its own color.
ReplyDeleteI feel this would be great classroom management because maybe as you go through each step you can keep adding a block to the previous block and the students will know where they are at in the lesson. Many times when lessons 'drag on' students will lose interest, but if they know they only have one or two blocks until the lesson is complete, maybe they will listen more! Plus it is a great way for us to plan!