"What is collaborative learning?"
True collaboration allows students to take ownership for their learning journey. The technology tools we will be introducing often allow the flow of learning in the classroom to be organic, flowing out of students' inquiries and previous learning experiences, and shaping those to come (Lintelman, 2013; Parisi, 2008).
Student collaboration does not require technology in the same way that it requires a teacher who values this style of education. Collaborative learning is a student-controlled activity where learners work together and through consensus accomplish group or individual tasks (McAlpine, 2000; Panitz, 1999). Read more from our colleagues on the ETEC510 Design Wiki. |
Stop-motion created by Caitlin Langford, a previous
ETEC510 student, June 2015 |
In order for students to authentically collaborate, teachers must be comfortable surrendering control of the trajectory of the learning and embrace the role of a facilitator, flexibly offering guidance and help as students work together to both discover what's important in their learning, and negotiate the most fitting way to contribute that to their learning community. For more research and academic explanations about collaborative learning in general and how it differs from cooperative learning, see our Curriculum Guide.
"What are collaborative technology tools?"
Although not required, collaborative possibilities for student learning expand exponentially when digital technology is integrated into the learning and communication processes. Regardless of curriculum subject, age group, or grade range, teacher-leaders in innovate technology usage are united in recognizing the value of digital tools for collaboration opportunities by their students.
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Collaboration has been defined as "the act of working together in order to achieve something; something created by working jointly with another" (Dale, 2012; The Clarkson Alliance, 2014), thus collaborative technology tools are programs, apps, or digital platforms that allow students and teachers to expand the actors in the collaborative process to include more than what would normally be available due to geographic, cultural, language, or time zone constraints.
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Forum Questions for this page:
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Make your brainstorm in minutes using the site below and upload a screenshot to the Collaborative Tools Introduction Forum.
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