Can you explain what this picture is showing about collaborative learning (or group learning)?
What is your favorite part of this type of learning?
What would be the part that usually bothers you when working with others?
Give an example from your personal experience and elaborate on it.
This picture shows the procedure of collaborative learning. The center of collaborative learning is learning through reflection. First, students and instructors team up to decide a topic and pose a question to this topic. Second, team members deliberate on this question together. After deeply thinking, members will find out that their ideas are different. Through generating multiple perspectives, members will learn to appreciate and criticize others’ viewpoints and present their own ideas clearly at the same time. Additionally, members can make their thoughts diversely by listening to others’ opinions. Finally, members will find out several solutions to the question. Members produce their deliverables by written or oral. These steps form a invitational communication climate.
In college, I have a course called summary of philosophy. In this course, students are divided into several groups and discuss a class related question in different classrooms. In last class, we talk about logic. Like the procedure of collaborative learning, group members show our opinions orally and criticize others’ proof graphically. Generalizing multiple perspectives is my favorite part in this procedure. But in every discussion, my group always has a problem. Members (including me) are afraid of speaking out opinions. I think this problem has something to do with our culture. We are used to think twice before we take action. However, this thinking way contrarily weakens our thinking ability. We will become irresolute, dread to make mistake and have no courage to have different idea.
This picture shows some principles students are supposed to follow in collaborative learning. First of all, course participants should actively and collaboratively decide together what problem they will study for research. In turn, they may have a sense of “ownership” of their research project. Secondly, students should open their mind to the notion that there may be more than one reasonable answer to a question. They must work together to make an informed, reasoned decision and perform it in an oral or written form. After the project is done, reflection is required to examine how the collaborative experience has improved their ability for their future academic experiences as well as what skills they need to strengthen. During the process of the project, authentic assessment is strongly recommended to measure student tasks. Last but the least, teachers are supposed to state the students’ “learning goals” clearly- what teacher want students to learn- in case that the task becomes “what the instructor wants to read.”
回覆刪除I am personally fond of the part of “multiple perspectives”. Through collaboration, students are forced to state their own opinions as well as take others’ ideas into consideration simultaneously. In turn, they come to realize that teachers’ instruction is not the only solution to a problem. In Taiwan’s teaching and learning environment, teachers tend to give students standard answers; likewise, students love to rely on teachers’ answers instead of finding answers on their own. This model provides a great opportunity to train students to possess multiple perspectives.
On the other hand, according to my personal experience, in applying this model, teachers need to offer students a certain amount of time in class for group discussion. Otherwise, if students should not work out to meet outside class, the whole project could be delayed.
Moreover, it takes more time for a group to make a decision for a project. Therefore, schedule must be set ahead of time. Otherwise, the whole project could be postponed as well.
回覆刪除As a teacher, your opinion is professional. I am glad to have you as my key pal and learn something outside the picture provided. In your opinion, you mentioned that time limit is always a difficulty for collaborative learning. I agree. Having less time to think is also a reason for nobody speaks out. In addition, you talk about authentic assessment. It makes me think of our English listening and speaking course. We use peer assessment on our show-and-tell project. The most interesting part is that we not only assess others but ourselves. It means we have to responsible for others’ and ourselves performance. This is an example of collaborative learning. Through collaborative learning, I think students can be concentrate on listening others’ opinion and combine these different kinds of thoughts into their own ability. In global village, thinking and conveying ideas in different aspect is important skill. I think this picture can set a procedure for us the way of discussion.
回覆刪除Dear Tina,
回覆刪除This writing project is also a kind of collaborative learning, isn't it? I am also happy to have you as my key pal.
Best regards,
Faith