• Do you believe that humans have a basic instinct to
“interact and work as a group,” as Rheingold proposed in his discussion of the
evolution of Wikipedia as a collectively developed encyclopedia?
My belief is that humans do have a basic instinct to
interact and work as a group. The
students in my class have learned to create teams in discussions and debate
where there is no absolute wrong answer but meaningful ideas and collaboration to
create critical thinking skills as a group.
According to Palloff and Pratt (2005) “when working in small groups,
teams, or even on the discussion board of an online course, the ability to
create knowledge and meaning is enhanced”; “a systematic set of activities that
build on each other and scaffold learning, collaborative projects, or complex
activities that demand that students use multiple skills—all learning style or
tapped”; and “Collaborative activity enables students to construct their own knowledge
and apply prior experiences and their own culturally preferred ways of knowing
to the task.” We all have the ability to
work as a group. Some students may be
more vocal and some may lack participation but in the end they all have
something to say or add to the group.
Whether it’s a brief experience or your group chanting you on, your
opinion does have a lasting effect on the group.
•How can technology facilitate collaboration among learners
based on constructivist principles?
Technology can facilitate collaboration among learners based
on constructivist principals by enabling the learner to interact with peers
around the world. Social blogs, wikis,
and online data bases are all ways of sharing information throughout the worldwide
internet. Palloff and Pratt (2007) stated
that the use of technology “needs encouragement and support” and “provides the
participant with a foundation for future learning experiences.” Technology
facilitates collaboration in such a broad arena, that it helps learners to
create inevitable experiences.
•Find a current research study that has been conducted in
the last 5 years that supports collaboration as an effective tool for learning.
Include the link and reference for this study in your blog.
The following research studies and links are in support of
collaboration as a tool for learning.
The links can be accessed through Walden’s Library.
Akpinar, Y., & Bal, V. (2006). Student tools supported
by collaboratively authored tasks: the case of work learning unit. Journal of
Interactive Learning Research, 17(2), 101-119. Retrieved from: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ726329&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Wang, S., & Hsua, H. (2008). Reflections on Using Blogs
to Expand In-Class Discussion. Techtrends: Linking Research And Practice To
Improve Learning, 52(3), 81-85. Retrieved from:
http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ803601&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Reference:
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating
online: learning together in community. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Palloff, R. M., Pratt, K., & Palloff, R. M. (2007).
Building online learning communities: effective strategies for the virtual
classroom. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
I responded to:
Charee Hampton http://chareehampton.blogspot.com/
Christopher Cannon http://www.chrisotphercannon.blogspot.com/
That is incredible!! "The students in my class have learned to create teams in discussions and debate where there is no absolute wrong answer but meaningful ideas and collaboration to create critical thinking skills as a group."
ReplyDeleteHow old are your students?
Brigit,
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you say your students "learned" to do this. If they "learned" how to do it can we truly say that they have a basic instinct? To me, having a basic instinct means it's something that you naturally do, you're not taught how to do it. I think, over time, we do interact and work as a group naturally because we do it so much.
Hi Reggie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the response. My students are between 6 and 8. You are absolutely correct...meaningful ideas and collaboration creates critical thinking skills.
Hi Charee,
Thank you for your response. Well, I do consider collaboration as a basic instinct because all of us have the instinct to join in on any interesting conversation. My two year old granddaughter loves to join in when we are talking. Her basic instinct is talking whether she knows what she is talking about or not. :)Observations bring about basic instinct.
Brigit
I believe in a survival instinc, and in this Darwin was correct: the fittest will survive. If it is entering a conversation to please someone, or to imitate, that's what the little one has to do. Many "sharks of industry" please their adversary, win them over before eating them alive. I believe in the instinct to be right, and wanting to win at all cost, especially in our modern society.. I would live to make a comparative study in a third world country village and a small town in the USA. Heck, even just small town versus big town. It is my honest opinion that humans corrupt each others. The more we are together, the more we have a need of power.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Reggie that it is amazing that your students can collaborate in healthy discussions. I teach fourth grade, so my students are a little older than yours. I have noticed throughout the years that my students have a natural tendency to discuss problems with their classmates or ask for feedback when working on an assignment. I do believe observations bring about basic instinct.
ReplyDeleteHi Nicolas
ReplyDeleteThanks for the response. Believe me when I say,"I have seen the 'sharks of industry' in action. Your right, "humans corrupt each other" because of power.
Hi Christopher,
Thanks for the response. Nicolas spoke about "sharks in industry" but the 'sharks' also start early in life. I have seen fourth and fifth grader sabotage each other just to get a vote or because she is friends with someone you do not like. I think girls are more likely to do this in K-12. How do your girls work together?
Brigit