Module 3 Rheingold Video Response

Reflection on Rheingold’s video

     In Rheingold’s (2008) dialog, he claims that humans do have a basic instinct to work with others. Evolution is the key to interaction as a group.  Back in the days, it was “the survival of the fittest”, but as the world matured and language/socialization started to emerge, it became the main frame and people began to realize that in order for some things to get accomplished, teamwork was the answer. He discusses the importance of Wikipedia as a collective developed encyclopedia which contains a summary of human knowledge. Rheingold (2008) states that the alphabet was the changing factor and a very powerful tool declaring “new forms of wealth emerged” and still going strong today.  In my opinion, it is a matter of do you want to work with others or work individually? I like to do both. Sometimes too many chiefs is not beneficial, but on the flip side, when one chief drops the ball (so to speak), the other one is there to pick up the pieces. We all learn from each other’s teaching methods and gain knowledge. I think it really depends on the task at hand if collaboration is a key tool or not.

     Technology can play a part in facilitating collaboration through the use of blogs, office, podcasts, docs, wikis, discussion boards, and other technologies. Discovery learning is the primary thought process where learners develop their own knowledge through analysis of their own familiarities. Discovery learning does not mean that it is unguided, it means that learners will be provided with the tools, resources, and necessary support to guide them through their own learning manner.

Collaboration is defined as “a recursive process where two or more people...work together toward an intersection of common goals...by sharing knowledge, learning, and building consensus” (Lomas, Burke & Page. 2008). Constructivism offers multiple ways of learning which allows for greater success.

 

     “The Internet offers multiple pathways to learning, using hypertext/hypermedia as a constructivist learning tool. Carefully designed materials presented online can assist individuals’ construction of knowledge by providing alternative pathways to information and making that information easily accessible from any location that has system facilities” (How does Technology Facilitate Constructivist Learning).

www.calproonline.org/eric/docs/brown/brown01_05.pdf

     The study below provides insight on how teachers examined themselves team teaching with others. It goes on to reveal how the teachers learned and discovered the benefits of collaborative work.

Here are some responses from teachers after working collaboratively together; ““I mean it took so much time…but then we became much more at ease with the process and I think also much more comfortable with each other and we began to collaborate in a much more fluid way” and “the presence of another pushed us to go deeper, emphasizes the opportunity for reflective practice through the process of collaborative teaching” (Lester & Evans, 2009). http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ869322.pdf

 

 

References

Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education

How Does Technology Facilitate Constructivist Learning?

 www.calpro-online.org/eric/docs/brown/brown01_05.pdf

Lester, J. N., & Evans, K. R. (2009). Instructors' Experiences of Collaboratively Teaching: Building Something Bigger. International Journal Of Teaching And Learning In Higher Education, 20(3), 373-382.

Lomas, C., Burke, M. & Page, C.L. (2008). Collaborative Tools. Retrieved from: net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eli3020.pdf

Rheingold, H. (2008, February). Howard Rheingold on collaboration [Video file]. Retrieved from:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/howard_rheingold_on_collaboration.html

I have replied to:
Joy https://avery7105.wordpress.com/

Diana
http://dianaeduc8845.blogspot.com/

Heather   http://edtechist.blogspot.com/