I have been studying some on the idea of cooperative learning. This is basically activities which are designed so that students learn in group projects. Since, as you may have guessed, my preferred learning theory is the constructionist theory these cooperative lessons would be categorized as social constructionism. I like this idea because it allows the students to understand the content on a deeper level, gives them a perfect example of how they will work in the “real world”, and it also helps them to learn social skills.
One activity for this type of method is presented in the book Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. They describe a middle school teacher that assigns a two week movie project in which the students must present information about the lives of famous mathematicians. One very wise decision that the teacher made was to keep the groups relatively small in size. This will allow for each student to be able to contribute to the project (artifact) without being lost in a mass of other student suggestions.
Another Idea suggested by the book Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works is the idea of creating a website. I love this idea because the students are able to work outside of school. They are also able to show off their site. One issue that I am still trying to work the kinks out on is, how to let students show off their musical compositions. The music that we create in computer programs I can export as an mp3 but if I post a picture of their written compositions, the looker doesn’t get much out of it unless they can read music. This is not to mention the limited amount of space that I have on my site for storing. However, if the students had their own sites they would be able to post their school work and share their creations with the world, including their parents.
The one idea that I am the most excited about is called a voicethread. With it students can comment on pictures that are submitted to the thread. This would be really interesting for creating projects about composers, instruments, or large musical works. In a way these act a lot like blogs or wiki, which are also good cooperative learning activity facilitators, because the students are contributing to a main thought. I could see these types of activities working very well with large group assignments.
In each of these examples the students are creating something (yeah constructionism) and working together (social). I would love to see more and more activities like these instituted into the classroom.
References:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Along with you, I also liked the idea of creating a website. I enjoyed the idea of my students being able to contribute to the site as well as me adding what I choose. The VoiceThread is also an interesting form of technology. Before I had looked more into it, I thought a VoiceThread was simply recording your voice. Since learning there is a lot more to it I have been experimenting and viewing others’ VoiceThreads. I cannot wait to incorporate this idea into my classroom; my students will love it! I agree with your last paragraph, of having more social constructionism activities brought into the classroom. I am always up for learning about things that will grab my students attention and make learning fun.
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ReplyDeleteLoved that you could pick out the great ideas from the weeks lesson. You have great ideas that you put into your teaching. I'm sure your students get so much out of your teaching.
In relation to your comment about the movie project, our school computers are equipped with software called MovieMaker and PhotoStory. Several teachers use this regularly to have students collaborate on projects ranging from historical figures to mathematical concepts. The software allows for photos and audio to be uploaded and then put together in a slideshow/montage that presents the material in an interesting and eye-catching way. I have not used these programs yet, but the completed projects I have seen look excellent, and the kids are so proud to have made them.
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