Second Blog: Strengths, Limitations and Issues of Distance Education
Wednesday: Week 4- Collaboration Interaction
The element of online collaboration has evolved by way of an extension of online communication. From first sending emails back and forth, to teleconferencing to webinars, to instant messaging, to the wiki and Skype, online communication has led to online collaboration. Siemens (n.d.) tells us that getting a certain comfort level will allow these kinds of collaborative technologies to proliferate. The wiki is a great example which allows online collaboration by allowing editing of group work. This element allows individual and group creativity with discussion. Victoria Davis(2009) gives eleven essential tools for global collaboration in her blog. Using these elements classroom teachers can guide their classes to collaborate using online tools that will allow great collaboration. She gives tips for using these tools as well. While her list is extensive, it is by no means the only available tools, just some she has used in the course of her own teaching. http://russwiki.wikispaces.com/ is an example of a Chicago Public School teacher’s wiki that comes complete with the CPS Acceptable Use Policy. I liked the rules Russ gave the students for using the wiki in and out of school. Having taken one on his technology classes during the summer of 2008, I can appreciate his work with children.
The online tools that will allow collaboration through email are regular email accounts as well as the free Hotmail.com, gmail.com, etc. Email can get to be as slow as snail mail if it’s not checked regularly. Instant messaging is only as fast as one can type and the collaborators need to be online at the same time. Skype allows video and messaging as well as voice and again the collaborators need to be online at the same time. The wiki allows collaboration without the collaborators being online at the same time. Each can check in when they find it convenient leave messages and even edit each other’s work. Notification can be given and received by way of a feed and one can keep up with the collaboration. Learners using these tools will gain tremendous knowledge using the technology as well as learning the content of the subject matter.
Simonson, M. (n.d.). Distance education: Higher education, K12, and the corporate world. Retrieved September 28, 2009 from the EDUC-7102-2/EDUC-8842-2 Principles of Distance Education Web site: http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=3649021&Survey=1&47=5797856&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Davis, V.[Victoria A] Cool Cat Teacher Bloghttp://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2009/09/11-essential-tools-for-global.html
http://russwiki.wikispaces.com/
I agree that online collaboration has evolved from e-mails. I remember when being online meant just checking your e-mail and doing a little research, now you can watch tv, use the phone, and take classes.
ReplyDeleteLaverne,
ReplyDeleteYou bring up an important point with Russ' rules for wiki pages for students in and out of school. Technology can be very useful for learning inside and outside the classroom, but if parameters are not set forth for the students when new technologies are being used outside the classroom we as the educator can be held accountable for incorrect behavior and/or postings. We then must also monitor the assignments and/or sites to make sure the students are in compliance with the rules.
Sarah
I think it is wonderful that we want our students to collaborate, but what controls do you have if you are using e-mail? Can the instructor keep the students on task? Our elementary students use Gaggle while at school and where it can be monitored. We have a problem with some students send inappropriate messages. How do you prevent that as well as online bullying?
ReplyDeleteRebecca
My district has its own internal software setup called FirstClass. Students are encouraged to use the email and to collaborate using this platform. From the outset they know that nothing they write is private and will be read by everyone from myself, the principal, and the people overseeing the software program. I have the option of blocking those students who abuse the email or use inappropriate language. If they are blocked they cannot even sign onto a computer because their email login is also their computer login. I have had to block a few, but the more they use it the less I have found them abusing it. My first several weeks' lessons are on cyberbullying. I take it very seriously and the inappropriate messages get sent home to their parents along with the request for conference. Too much of their work is done on the computer for them to lose the priviledge so most take it seriously as well.
ReplyDelete