Collaborative Projects 2.0

"The results of the meta-analyses suggest that, on average, students who use computers when learning to write are not only more engaged and motivated in their writing, but they produce written work that is of greater length and higher quality" (Goldberg, Russell, & Cook, 2003, p.1).

This quote from the Schrum and Levin reading really struck me. It hit home that it truly is a requirement to use technology in the classroom. However, I'm also curious to know how this research has evolved in the last 10 years as this research was collected from 1992-2002. Does the introduction of Web 2.0 technology (like wikis, jings, Google Docs, and podcasts) change the results? Are students even more engaged and motivated when they use Web 2.0 technology in collaborative and independent assignments? 

Below are a few examples of how I would use technology in collaborative projects in my future classroom: 

Digital Storyteller

Digital storytelling is an excellent way to promote collaborative writing. A digital story combines text and images with narration in the student’s own voice to form a short digital movie (Digital Storyteller, 2006). Animoto is an example of a digital storytelling web tool. Digital storytelling could easily be integrated into the classroom. Historical contexts are a critical concept for students to grasp in many texts covered in secondary education English classes. For example, the racially-charged environment in the South during the time period of To Kill a Mockingbird is critical for students to understand. In order to hit this point home, I would have students form small groups of (3-4 students) to work on a digital story together that explains the historical, cultural, and social contexts of this time period using images from the time period, video, sound clips, and voice. In addition, collaborative writing is required as students would need to work together to plan and write their script. Students will also really enjoy watching their classmates' productions! 

Peer Review using Google Docs

I referenced this collaborative learning activity in my Learning Theories blog post, but I really dig this idea and I think it is worth mentioning again. The link above describes how Google doc technology can be used to engage students in the writing process. This activity is engaging and collaborative from two perspectives:

• The instructor has an introductory lesson for the entire class on revising an essay in Google docs. After a brief explanation and demonstration, the class participates in this activity by coming up to the Smart Board to make revisions to the sample essay. 
• In the computer lab, two students will share their essay with their partners by uploading their essays to Google docs. They will then review and edit each other's work in Google docs using the techniques they learned during the previous class. 

Check out this post for detailed instructions on how to complete this activity: 

Resources for Facilitating Learning

Wild about Wikis

As the Wikis in Education link suggests, the possibilities are really endless with using wikis to facilitate learning. We use our class wiki frequently for Learning Theories and I'm surprised by how easy it is to navigate, find material, and add content. Given my experience as a learner thus far, I definitely think that I will create a wiki in my future classroom. 

• Create a Jing that outlines instructions for an upcoming project. Share the Jing with students in class, but then also post the Jing to the wiki for future reference. 
• Post a "Quote of the Week" to one of the pages and ask students to share their thoughts with the rest of the class by editing and saving their comments to the wiki. (This got me thinking...can you archive pages or content in a wiki? I could see this getting lengthy.)
• Encourage students to use the Discussion board to share feedback on lessons. Did they find their time in class meaningful? If they were the teacher, what would they do differently? Students can also use the Discussion board to ask their peers questions on assignments or readings.
• Create a vocabulary page. Each student is responsible for editing the wiki to update the definition of their assigned word and will need to include a sentence using the vocabulary word. This list will continue to grow throughout the year and will give students a good list of vocabulary words to use in their papers. 

References 

Goldberg, A., Russell, M., Cook, A. (2003). The effect of computers on student writing: A meta-analysis of studies from 1992 to 2002. Journal of Technology, Learning and Assessment, 2(1), 1-47.

Jarc, J. (2010). Using google docs for peer review. Retrieved from http://trendingeducation.com/?p=483.

Schrum, L. & Levin, B. (2009). Leading 21st century schools: harnessing technology for engagement and achievement. California: Corwin.  

University of Virginia Curry School of Education. (2006). Digital Storyteller. Retrieved from http://www.digitalstoryteller.org/.   

Wikis in Education. (2011). How we use wikis in class. Retrieved from http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/page/How+we+use+wikis+in+class?t=anon.