People are constantly learning from others. Our students' peers can be an awesome resource for information if they work cooperatively. Research has shown that students learn more if they are actively engaged in their learning and Orey (2007) tells us the main purpose of cooperative learning is to get our students actively engaged in their education.
Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski, the authors of Using Technology with Classroom Technology that Works, suggest a few methods to get our students working together
(140). My favorite of these methods is the cooperative multimedia project. Of course rubrics are given and students are given responsibility to create the project among themselves. I really like how students are given or choose roles for what they intend to do in the project. This gives structure to the project. Another thing that correlates is having students work on a project like this will make them work together and achieve success together. They will be accountable to one another and in turn, help each other learn.
Winner
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
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Hi Rob,
ReplyDeleteIn the old days, students sitting down quietly and attentively shows that they are engaged in classroom activities. However the so called 'attentively' can be students pretending, we as teachers can never know if the students are looking at you listening or actually their brains are somewhere else!
Hence I totally agree with you that it's through cooperative learning that students are engaged. It's the collaboration, the stimulation, the discussion between students that engaged them 'actively', and the fact that students will have to produce something afterward prove how much they have understood. It's all very active rather than the traditional passive teacher-talk-students-listen kind of way.
Sarah
Hi,
ReplyDeleteSarah, you are right. It used to be that a nice quiet classroom meant that the students where learning and things where going well, but it's definitely not so much true in todays educational world. Like Rob said, students and their peers can be a resource of learning for each other. They start to become more independent of the teacher and start to show confidence and rely on each other. I think this foundation will help them greatly later on in life when they join the workforce. No one wants an employee who has to continually ask the boss what to do. They want someone who can work through problems, work with the other employess, and figure things out. So, the aspects of the social learning theory doesn't just apply to the young in school, it also applies to life in general, and how people learn from one another every single day. Those who are able to work well with others and learn from others, I feel, will generally do better in life.
Tanika
Rob,
ReplyDeleteI would agree multimedia is a strategy that I believe is extremely effective cooperative learning tool. It is very useful in supporting the individual strengths in all students. This allows each individual to be engaged in the process and take on the role of the Most knowledgeable other. I believe this is so important because it keeps the whole group involved while experiencing and developing new skills from others.
Thanks,
Lynda
Rob,
ReplyDeleteI too agree using multimedia is effective. But, there needs to be structure-rubrics and roles. I think that is the key for making cooperative learning successful. I also like how the students are responsible for their learning and the others they are working with-sometimes having accountability can be a powerful thing.
Thanks guys!
ReplyDeleteLots of things to discuss with this topic for sure...
The cool thing about this week is that all of our students can be actively angaged in the lesson. Expanding our students abilities with technology and multimedia will only benefit them in the long run.
These types of activities create a massive amount of work for us as teachers before the lessons. It can be hard sometimes to set up roles and rubrics, but our students will appreciate the hard work we put in when they have a well thought out lesson and they can see the results in their learning.
Have a great week!
Winner
Rob,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it can be a lot of work to get things together in the beginning, but once you've already created the rubrics and such once, you don't have to redo it year after year, unless you want to tweak it a bit because something didn't quite work. I think it's hard in the beginning, but should get easier over time. Plus, with all the upfront work, you have more time in the classroom to work with the students. You actually have the time to talk with the students.
Tanika