It is essential that we show students how to properly collaborate early in their lives. If students are able to see how to listen, offer criticism, and respond to each other they will be more successful in their future. In an English classroom there is plenty of availability for collaboration and use of collaboration tools.
Peers and the teacher can revise and edit papers using Google Docs or Pirate Pad. This would allow students to freely offer their opinions in a manner that allows for everyone to participate without fearing ridicule.
Charts created on Inspiration will allow students to create pre-writing plans as they brainstorm about their topic. A valuable aspect about this would be the ability to see the students' thought process and how they came to the conclusion.
Skype, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, and websites allow for parents, teachers, and students to all stay connected. There are endless possibilities for allowing students who are ill still actively participate by using collaboration technology. The classroom walls are also able to expand greatly by finding connections with authors, other students in different countries, and specific locations.
Students could also use each other as a collaboration tool. In my classroom I intend to have students personally select what they want to read instead of having a text as a class set. Therefore, students could create different products like movie trailers, advertisements, create QR codes, and record their own book talks to promote a book.
It would also be valuable to have students prepare for and participate in discussions using various technological resources. Using strategies like SOAPS for discussion will provide each student with a specific role and help prepare them for the business world. If students are familiar with using technology in the classroom lessons and actively engaging with it they will be more used to working with it and understand how to use it to their advantage. The most valuable lesson students can learn while using collaboration in the classroom
I really liked how you focused all of your collaboration strategies on the subject you know you will be teaching! It's amazing to think that the same resources your middle school students will be using can also be used by the younger children I will be teaching!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the SOAPS for discussion strategy but it seems as though it would be extremely beneficial in the classroom. It is so important that we teach our students how to work together at a young age so that they are prepared for that in adulthood.
I really liked your idea of having students peer edit using google docs or pirate pad. I remember when I was in school I was afraid to not only receive feedback on papers, but to also give them to my peers. Using technology to help with peer edit allows students to still be able to collaborate but in a non threatening environment. I believe that the edits they give their peers will be at a much higher level do to using this technological form of collaboration.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are so many opportunities for technology use and collaboatation in an English classroom. The amount of writing, publishing, and creating that is possible in an English class give students limitless possibilities to use collaborative tools. I personally love Inspiration; I used this porgram in highschool for both group and individual assignments, and I think it offers great ways for students to work together in a visual way.
ReplyDeleteI also love how you made the point that students who are ill can still participate in class activities and group projects using online collaborative tools. Students who are home for long periods of time, or even just for a day or two, can benefit significantly from having their teacher and peers give feedback on their work and from being able to continue to contribute to group activities.