Students today are already immersed into a digital world where technology is always at their fingertips. In our faced-paced, virtual working environment students will inherit(Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, 2007). Along with digital devices they working and dealing with others to solve problems. The world is full of problems, and we continually have concerns about our agriculture, environment, and energy resources. In order to tackle these issues cooperative learning is a valuable instructional strategy for students in the classroom.
It is essential for students to develop communication skills and have the ability to collaborate with others for a common goal. If they learn to work with one another in the classroom, it will have an added benefit in the workforce down the road. Dr. Orey expounds that the student's best zone is proximal development (Laureate, 2009). This is a zone where students have a foundation on content, and they can now move to research and find the "why" or depth through an artifact or product. In the working world there are presentations collaborated and shared through powerpoints, spreadsheets, and video conferencing.
One great example in this social learning theory is the activity, "jig-saw". This activity takes cooperative learning and links technology for a product to teach others (Laureate, 2009). In the "jig-saw" students are put in groups and numbered. When students get their number, they go and meet up with another group to work on task. Later, they report back to share with their original group. Now you have peer teaching and discussion so an artifact such as powerpoint can be created to see the task as a whole. It is a good way to show students everyone can offer something valuable.
Cooperative learning with the aide of technology will be an asset for students in the real world. It is still necessary for independence, and we still need to deal with individual testing. However, we need to find a way to add group problem solving because people are judged outside of schooling by what they produce, and not what they score on a test. Sometimes showing a teacher is better than telling a teacher. Ironic, that these are the same, similar methods teachers should use for best practices. This correlation leads to better training for our younger generations
J. Raines
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer).(2009).Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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I like your comment "However, we need to find a way to add group problem solving because people are judged outside of schooling by what they produce, and not what they score on a test". Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could convince the "powers that be" that this is what students grades should be based on, just like it is in the "real world" rather than on standardized pencil and paper testing! I guess for now we just have to figure out a way to make sure collaborative work is a part of our classrooms because we know how imporatnt it is for students once they leave the classroom environment.
ReplyDeleteJay,
ReplyDeleteI have used a jigsaw perspective on cooperative learning before; however, I have not used it with technology. I love to see students teaching each other. They take such pride. The technology component would put the icing on the cake, so to speak.
Melissa
Hi, Jay. I teach a STEM class of 20 freshmen. In this classroom, students have access to an abundance of technology, technology that is not available to the rest of the student body. Kids work on computers for the majority of their day, researching and completing their coursework. It is an image that you see in the business world day after day. People sitting at their laptops, collaborating with their co-workers on their latest project or assignment. To be successful in this workforce, students need to learn how to work with each other in teams while they are in the school setting. It is the best place to learn these skills as they will not have the same opportunity in a structured environment anywhere else. I think it is important that we nurture these team building skills while they are with us because it is what employers will seek when looking for new hires. I agree with you that we should focus less on "teaching to the test" and more on real life skills.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Robinson
Reedblogger,
ReplyDeleteIt is so important for students to have these collaborative tools. Working with others will be so valuable down the road. Years ago our school was big on Marzano's group work in the classroom. Now, we are all about testing. I have read that congress has been meeting to discuss NCLB. Maybe with the administration we can get back to what the students need outside the classroom walls. Right now you try to blend in social learning, but there are handcuffs.
Jay
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteEarlier this year my students broke down the six parts of the preamble. They met with partners to create a slide with images and what the part meant. They then shared and taught the class about their slide. I wonder what the end result would be if we took the jig-saw approach with this activity. I am looking forward to fit this activity in somewhere soon.
Jay
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great experience. I try to use technology as much as I can in class. I tend to use technology more with my honors classes. I do feel my academic students are losing out, but the activities consume more time with them. I have tried to be equal early on this year, and they get behind. If I did not have to worry about this test, or the academic curriculum was less demanding, then I'd implement the same to both. I do use technology with my academic students, but we have to improvise.
Jay