The general idea on online discussions in school is widespread and becoming more the norm in classroom settings then it used to be. Sometimes using online chat, discussion boards and wiki can be dull and uninspiring and tend to bore students into discussing personal matters rather than the assigned task. There are ways to avoid this and inspire students to learn in this new technology of online discussions. One way is for the teacher to give specific open ended questions that provoke thought from the student. They can interact by visiting one another’s wiki’s and giving each other constructive feedback. Another way is to ask questions that involve research and problem solving. A popular way to work collaboratively on this type of assignment is to use the program GoogleDocs. Some other methods of online collaboration are to view other media resources, such as videos or photographs. As stated in the article, using comparison methods can also be beneficial, whether they are logical or illogical. Comparing a roller coaster that the student creates to ones already constructed and also illogically comparing a historical figure to a Muppet character are different ways to studying the subject matter.
Questions:
#1 What should the time allotment be with students online collaboration?
It is important to spend quality time on the computer for homework and in class assignments, but in today’s society, too much emphasis is placed on sitting in front of the computer with out having a serious task, such. as video games and it is causing a social rift between children and society as a whole. Too many children are becoming physically lazy and complacent. They are happy to just sit and not spend enough time outdoors in an exercise activity. The growing number of childhood obesity in today’s US society gives credit to the computer age.
#2 Should online collaboration be taught as a equally in school as physical collaboration?
Having online collaboration offers many benefits that physical collaboration does not offer. One would be that information can be found and shared with anyone who is interested, regardless of where that students lives. That information can be important and beneficial to another who would not otherwise have access to it. The physical side of it is that it creates social intimacy and bonding amongst peers who can work together in a group setting and use each others strengths to complete the task. They both are equally important.
Cole, Jeanie. "Keep Them Chatting." Learning & Leading with Technology Vol.36, #5february 2009 32-33. 21 Feb 2009
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