Collaboration is more than an education buzzword. It is a life skill that requires consistent practice and thoughtful refinement. It requires an open mind, a willingness to listen, and a desire to contribute. It’s considered a “21st Century Skill” and is part of the “Learning and Innovation Skills 4 C’s” framework along with Critical Thinking, Communication, and Creativity. Collaboration is widely discussed and promoted among scholars and practitioners and is central to the success of any meaningful learning environment. Professional Learning Networks (PLNs) exemplify the power and importance of collaboration by creating an online platform for practitioners to ask questions, explore diverse perspectives and new ideas, seek professional feedback, brainstorm and collaborate, as well as further their own knowledge (Carpenter, Trust, Krutka, 2016).
It is for these reasons that I regularly turn to the PLNs FreeTech4Teachers and PracticalEdTech. Both pages are produced by Richard Byrne and offer a plethora of information regarding teaching in the digital age. For someone who does not consider herself super tech savvy, I’m grateful for resources like these where I can learn more about new ideas and see firsthand how to implement new tech tools like Yo Teach!, a backchannel platform specifically designed for classroom use. I’ll admit I’ve been slightly leery of the idea of backchannel communication in the classroom, however, after reading more about the benefits of using this type of tech tool with students, my brain went straight to the possibilities for collaboration. Yo Teach! Is a chatroom platform where students can ask questions, share ideas, and collaborate with peers. It can be used for warm-up activities or as an online discussion board, where students can post differing perspectives or thoughts. According to the website, one of the primary objectives of this platform is to “increase students’ overall learning outcomes.” Increasing students’ overall learning outcomes is central to the idea of collaboration. When students learn to collaborate effectively, they increase their learning. The very act of collaboration requires communication and shared contributions, which scholars argue is foundational to increased learning. When students feel that they can contribute in a meaningful way, they become more invested in their own learning (November, 2009). And once this type of learning takes root, it can lead to the attainment of a life skill that is increasingly important in today's world. According to Alan November, the ability to collaborate is becoming more important than test scores when it comes to finding work in the real world (2017). He states that in an interview with a CEO of an international bank, he learned the most valuable skill a person can have in the workforce is the ability to “effectively contribute to teamwork and be sensitive to the needs of people from other cultures, religions, and regions, who might have very different perspectives…” (November, 2017). Like any other skill set, collaboration is something that is taught and must be practiced; it is something we should model on a daily basis and provide regular opportunities for. As teachers, we can turn to PLNs for this type of practice. In fact, Jeffrey P. Carpenter and colleagues contend that PLNs are the perfect place to practice our collaboration skills (2016). In a recent survey, they found that 57% of the 20,000 teachers polled use professional learning networks as a way to collaborate with other professionals they otherwise would be unable to connect with. They argue that by overcoming geographic limitations, educators are able to connect with people from diverse backgrounds (Carpenter, Trust, Krutka, 2016). This enables the exchange of new and alternative ideas and perspectives, which builds a foundation for understanding and open mindedness. As important as it is for educators to practice and model collaboration, we must also provide ample opportunity for our students to do the same. This is why I’ve chosen Yo Teach! to implement with my students. Richard Byrne argues that the use of backchannel platforms not only provide a voice for your typically shy students, they can also extend classroom discussions, and offer a great opportunity to practice digital citizenship (2018). I would agree that they allow students to communicate in a new way which may open up lines of authentic, more diversified thought. This platform can be used in any class setting and meets the SAMR criteria for Modification in that it transforms the way they can communicate. While it may require time and focus for establishing norms for use, another potential disadvantage is that it may not be taken seriously by students. It has the potential to serve as a distraction, but as mentioned, with time and effort, it could be taught to be used properly and effectively. Such usage is part of the development of 21st century digital literacy skills, and the way I see it, once students can master this type of communication and collaboration, the sky's the limit. This platform for internal collaboration opens the door to global collaboration which is the direction November advocates we take learning. As he claims, shifting control is part of collaborating, though it is difficult at all levels. As teachers, the use of this type of technology is a perfect opportunity to practice shifting control. Final thoughts: Collaboration can be tricky, which is why practice and modeling is important. The root of this challenging dynamic arguably lies in the fact that it can be difficult to understand and empathize with different perspectives at times, but the more we’re exposed to opportunities to do just that, the easier it becomes. If we are to help students develop 21st century skills like collaboration, we must practice and model it ourselves while also providing space for students to do the same. References: Byrne, R. (September, 2018). “7 reasons to try backchannels in the classroom.” https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2018/09/7-reasons-to-try-using-backchannels-in.html Byrne, R. (September, 2018). “How to Create an Online Discussion Space for Your Classes – And Why to Try It.” https://practicaledtech.com/2018/09/23/how-to-create-an-online-discussion-space-for-your-classes-and-why-you-should/ Carpenter, J., Trust, T., Krutka, D. (August, 2016). “The Virtual Workroom: Using Social Media, Teachers Reach Beyond School Walls to Learn and Grow.” Www.learningforward.org Jackson, S. (2013). "How Technology can Encourage Student Collaboration." https://www.commonsense.org/education/blog/how-technology-can-encourage-student-collaboration www.commonsense.org/education/blog/how-technology-can-encourage-student-collaboration November, A. (2017). “Inviting Global Perspectives into the Classroom.” https://novemberlearning.com/educational-resources-for-educators/teaching-and-learning-articles/inviting-global-perspectives-classroom/
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorThoughts, interests, insights, and more from a total newbie teacher! Archives
December 2018
Categories
|