Collaboration

EDUC 7106 - Module 3 Collaboration Sonja Pugh October 16, 2011

//How will you facilitate an authentic collaborative learning experience to promote deeper student engagement with content skills and concepts?// Collaboration seems to come naturally for most students. Students frequently communicate with friends through texting by phone and Facebook. Their ability to collaborate will be used to promote creativity and understanding during the lesson. We need to teach students how to be effective collaborators in that world, how to interact with people around them, how to be engaged, informed twenty-first-century citizens (Smith, 2007). As students work to complete their group assignments, they will share their work using the available technology.

//As members of collaborative groups, how will you support students’ efforts to identify solutions to the problem you are using as the framework for your PBL instructional unit?// In this PBL unit, the teacher will serve as a facilitator to guide students through the process. Students will be monitored during their research periods. Many websites are available for students to perform research on their chosen topic. Students will be encouraged to find solutions to complete the assignment.

//What criteria will you use to assign learners to collaborative groups, including a rationale? What will be the size of the collaborative groups you will include in your unit?// Student grouping will be determined by previous assessments. A mixture of students with various abilities will be grouped together. The stronger students will motivate the students who are not as proficient using technology. Many students have the ability to provide support to other students (Cennamo, Ross, Ertmer, 2010). The average class size is 24-25 students, so the groups will have 4-5 members.

//Which digital tools and websites are you considering for collaboration in your unit?// For collaborating, students will use classroom computers. Students will need guidance on what and how to post (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010). They will collaborate using wikis, www.wikispaces.com or blogs, [|www.edublogs.org]. These learning tools will probably be new for most of the students, so the teacher will demonstrate the process.

//How will you assess participation of the students in their collaborative groups?// The wikis or blogs will be reviewed to determine students’ participation. Although the unit is group based, there will be a group and individual assessments. Individual students will be required to share their ideas independently.

References: Cennamo, K. Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2010). //Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach.// Belmont, CA: Wadworth = = =Smith, F. (2007). //How to use social-networking technology for learning.// Retrieved from = = = =[] = = =