Both Bransford and Papert write about knowledge building activities for students. I try to design 505 as a knowledge building environment for students (and for me and Evrim too). Last night we had several examples of this knowledge building.
In groups, students defined some specific similarities in the thinking of Bransford and Papert and when the groups reported back, the shared information sparked interesting, informed discussion. Collin's point about Bransford's discussion of misconceptions relating to feedback in the Logo environment provided a new connection between the two for me-----and I am sure for others in the class. As evidenced in the picture, students in each of the groups were truly using the readings to make their points.
Diana provided more new knowledge with her well-organized presentation on Google Docs. She shared several capabilities of Google Docs that go beyond sharing documents and interest in the presentation was high. Her enthusiasm for Google Docs made her presentation especially effective. Quote Diana: "Google Docs Rocks".
Our "What is Learning" adventure revealed that we have several skilled photographers in our class, as well as students who can share knowledge about IMovie and Movie Maker. This shared expertise will help support our digital story assignment.
I forgot to suggest that students begin to collect images for their digital stories, so I am hoping that students reading this blog will get the message. We would like to do a little preliminary storyboarding in class next week, so bringing a few images will help students get started on their digital story.
I was very intrigued by the Google Docs discussion because, as a Google entity, it could go right alongside Blogger. Google Docs might just be a way for my students to collaboratively work on longer documents (their big short stories) in that environment, whereas the Blogger environment might work for brief sketches, but not so much for the longer writing. It does indeed rock.
ReplyDeleteI agree Diana, Google Docks Rocks! While I was in Iraq, we had to use a system of organization in the same way as Google Docks; however, the thing I liked most was the way to create multiple choice quizes. That will be a fun and new thing for me to try. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Ryan. I was trying to use Blogger for collaboration among students, yet, have not been successful. Bringing in Blogger and Google Docs can be "the" idea. This is where 1+1>2. Stefan, have I done it right? Thanks for agreeing with me, Google Docs does rock! Hope your multiple choice quizzes work beautifully!
ReplyDeleteReal life example:
ReplyDeleteI wrote a paper for one of my classes but my editor (my wife) is in another state right now. So, I decided to put it on Google Docs to try it out and see how well this will work for me in these situations. Doing this has given me ideas that I can use in the future both in my personal life and in the classroom.
In addition to wikis that I am using with my students, I am actually going to have them create PowerPoints in Google Docs for their group oral presentations that are due in two weeks. I think using Google Docs will eliminate a need for my students to meet in groups in the library (or somewhere else on campus) but instead provide them an opportunity to collaborate online.
ReplyDeleteDiana presented Google Docs applications that were both new and useful for me. Her knowledge of Google Doc and enthusiasm for it was terrific.
ReplyDeleteAnd your comments describing your uses of her presentation are fabulous---I think we care talking Bransford's community centered environment here!
Russ...FYI, I used Google Docs to download my PowerPoint presentation for last night's class and the configuration of the slides were not what they should have been. You may want to test it out with a PPT you already have to see if you run into errors like I did. Again, just an FYI.
ReplyDelete