Module 3
Reflection on Rheingold - Collaboration and Constructivist
I do believe under the right situation groups of people will come together to create and do for the benefit of all. One particular example is the disaster in New Orleans, when Hurricane Katrina devastated my home town. In a time of disaster family, friends and strangers came together to help. My house went from a home of 4 to a home of almost 20. Many friends, neighbors and colleagues of my husband and me assisted which I do believe was a basic instinct to do well.
Another example has risen in recent years due to the economic crisis families at my school have struggled to keep a roof over their kids heads, and food on the table as many families has all over the country. The teachers at my school have felt compelled to work together to help in providing food for many of our low income and diverse community. Many people such as my colleagues come together for a common good.
Rheingold proposal regarding the use of Wikipedia for collaboration is similar to several tools teachers use in the classroom. Teachers are now using technological tools such as Pearlstree and Pinterest to collaborate and share with others. The educational technology and social media sites that are developed today can be beneficial to collaboration.
I think the collaboration of technology based on constructivist principal should be viewed as an important resource of sharing. The internet brings a wealth of information to groups of individuals who can discuss and share ideas and resources. Constructivist principals create a way that learners can experience learning relevant in their particular environment.
Some ways that technology might be used within the context of constructivist curriculum are outlined in the following sites:
Hello Dwanell,
ReplyDeleteI love how your community has openned their hearts to those less forutnate whether via natural diaster or the failing economy. I too have similar examples of collaboration to support friends and family. I think in tragedy people are more compelled to help others. The true question is how can we get people to collaborate with this same passion without a tragedy?
Dwanell,
ReplyDeleteI love your examples of how people have come together and helped in times of need. I think they both poignantly illustrate that people do have a desire to collaborate. This helped me understand why Rheingold (2008) ended his video saying the collaboration we need will not happen on its own, that we have to do something to make it happen. In each of the situations you described, something happened to encourage the collaboration. Interesting post!
Rheingold, H. (2008, February). Howard Rheingold on collaboration [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html
Rashida
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rashida for posting to my blog. It does seem improbably that students on any level will be as passionate as family members or any individual after tragic situation.
But I do believe it is possible for students in all levels of education, primary, secondary and higher education to passionately collaborate. There are several diverse groups with various experiences to collaborate and work positively in a learning process. According to Vygotsky students are capable of performing at higher intellectual levels when asked to work in collaborative situations than when asked to work individually. Collaborative learning provides students with opportunities to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate ideas cooperatively.
Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Dwanell