EDLD 5364 Collaborative Learning (Week 4 Reflection)

This week’s learning activities, readings and videos centered around collaborative students activities.  I have worked with student collaborative groups before and, as a co-teacher, I have watched how other teachers worked with their groups.  What I saw in the classroom was substantiated by what I read in the materials.  In order for the group project to work, students must be actively engaged.  In order for the students to be actively engaged, the teacher must be well prepared and actively engaged as well.

The other thing that came into focus was the how technology has advanced and the use of technology has changed the way that students learn and work.  The learning that is gained through group work is enhanced by the use of technology.  “Technology can play a unique and vital role in cooperative learning by facilitating group collaboration, providing structure for group tasks, and allowing members of groups to communicate even if they are not working face to face. (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007)

References:

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.