“Technology can play a unique and important 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, p. 140). Being able to be social either through a face to face conversation or through email is an important skill that everyone needs in order to be successful in life. By creating assignments that allow for the students to work on a task while being social with either their own classmates or peers around the world is a great way to not only keep up with the times but a way to promote effective social skills. Kids these days struggle with writing a complete sentence for the mere fact that they are texting or using abbreviation on facebook most of their day. Due to all of the current technology students are struggling with writing a basis sentence. I can’t tell you how many papers I receive that either have LOL or some other abbreviation in them even after I remind them of my no text or instant messaging language. I know that this is not something that is just happening in my classroom but creating an assignment that forces students to be social with others outside of their social network might make students think twice about what they are saying or writing. I also believe that an important skill in life is not only being about to communicate with someone but being about to work collaboratively with someone even if you are not friends. Many of my students will ask to be switched or even have gone as far as to cry about who they are working with. An important life skill is to be able to work with others and to me cooperative learning defines that.
Resources:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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Ah, the dreaded LOL! It is important to learn how to write to one's audience and know what language is appropriate and what is not. There was a suggestion in the text on p. 190 that suggests students use MS word to check the grade level of their writing. This tool analyzes the document and provides a score called the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. I wonder if you could have students use this to improve their writing and get away from using chat text.
ReplyDeletePitler et. al. (2007) Using Technology with classroom instruction that works.