Week 10-
Collaborative technologies offer a range of new ways of supporting learning by enabling learners to share and exchange both ideas and their own digital products (Laurillard, p. 5, 2009). It is important to consider when designing new ways of learning to include collaboration via the use of technology. I strongly believe in the benefits associated with collaborative learning, and have witnessed these first hand on the placements I have completed. Killen (p. 228, 2012) highlights one of the main benefits of collaborative learning, whereby students are able to receive immediate feedback from their peers, and are able to learn more successfully from this. By also integrating technology into group work, this will only enhance students opportunities to learn from one and other about ways in which technology can be used.
There is an abundance of online resources available where students can participate as a group using technology. One online resource that promotes collaborative learning through the use of technology is the Google Cloud Platform. I was able to see the endless benefits of this whilst I was on a high school placement. Each student had access to a laptop, and it was amazing to set group tasks and see how beneficial technology was in being able to complete their work.
It allows for real time sharing between users, and can be used by more than one person at a time. Students will be able to use this device as a means to select and use appropriate ICT tools safely to share and exchange information and to safely collaborate with others (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, n.d.).
References:
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. (n.d.). Information and Communication Technology Capability Learning Continuum. Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/information-and-communication-technology-capability/introduction/pdf-documents
Killen, R. (2012). Effective teaching strategies : lessons from research and practice. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au
Laurillard, D. Computer Supported Learning (2009) 4: 5. https://doi-org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/10.1007/s11412-008-9056-2
ESC407 Classroom Technologies 
Hi Grace,
I agree that we as teachers will need to use new creative ways to have students collaborating using technology to keep them engaged and supported in their learning. I wrote about that too, and that it gives students an opportunity to become learner-focused, rather than teacher-focused. I found it interesting when you mentioned that one of the main benefits of collaborative learning was that students are able to receive immediate feedback from their peers. I had not thought of that point, but it makes sense to consider this, because as you mentioned it enables students to learn from one another.
Joanne
LikeLike
Hi Grace
Great post. I also agree that teachers need to be creative in getting students to collaborate. I personally find nothing worse than being placed in a group and given a texta and butchers paper to ‘collaborate’ with, that stresses me out. Collaborating through technology, I feel can make it somewhat less stressful as it’s less exposure for people who, like me, do not enjoy physical working within a group. Did you find whilst on your prac, that all, or most collaborated when using a form of technology, and do you think that would have been the same case if collaboration was done through pen and paper methods?
Elly Gales (ESC 407)
LikeLike