Global sharing: q&a with global schoolhouse founder Yvonne Marie Andres. (Social Studies).Q: What is collaborative learning Collaborative learning is an umbrella term for a variety of approaches in education that involve joint intellectual effort by students or students and teachers. Collaborative learning refers to methodologies and environments in which learners engage in a common task in which each ? A: Collaborative learning, sometimes called "group" or "shared" learning, takes advantage of learning as a social process. [I'll define it] as creating a learning community around a topic and a common goal. Schools once provided [children with] learning experiences not available to them [elsewhere]. Most contemporary students spend their non-school hours engaged in continuous, information drenched drench tr.v. drenched, drench·ing, drench·es 1. To wet through and through; soak. 2. To administer a large oral dose of liquid medicine to (an animal). 3. , multi-media experiences. Teachers are increasingly challenged to make [classroom] learning ... interesting and relevant for students. Online collaborative learning projects that require students to conduct research and then produce and share content with teammates [boost] literacy skills and prepare [them] for the workforce. Web-based collaboration presents a positive public forum for showcasing student work. Learning becomes more meaningful when, for example, students who are studying volcanos can communicate directly with children living at the foot of Mount Kilauea in Hawaii. And online collaborative learning [allows] students to [connect with speakers of other languages]. Q: How does global collaboration help enhance students' perspectives of their own communities? A: Too often students are not aware of what is unique and special about their own community, until they have an opportunity to share that information with others. For example, children who participate in the International Schools Cyber-Fair project act as "student ambassadors," working with local artists, local businesses, and the rest of their community to show the world what is special about "their" place. Q: How has the Internet influenced social studies education? A: Geography, history, politics and world cultures become more relevant to students as they communicate directly with other students from distant locations. When they can see how the subject matter affects their everyday lives, they're eager to contribute. In Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, and Kobe, Japan, middle students learn about earthquake [preparation] by sharing experiences through Internet videoconferencing See Web conferencing. . High school students receive first-hand accounts of life in a besieged be·siege tr.v. be·sieged, be·sieg·ing, be·sieg·es 1. To surround with hostile forces. 2. To crowd around; hem in. 3. Bosnian town and anxiously hope for resolution. Elementary school elementary school: see school. students raise awareness about environmental issues by tracking key pollution data on an international scale. [We had] 450 schools from 38 countries contribute two lines of poetry about peace to the United Nations, creating the world's largest peace poem and a sense of belonging to a common humanity. Q: What role does service learning play in education today? How can collaborative projects help promote community involvement? A: Service learning can mobilize mo·bi·lize v. 1. To make mobile or capable of movement. 2. To restore the power of motion to a joint. 3. To release into the body, as glycogen from the liver. the energy, commitment and idealism idealism, the attitude that places special value on ideas and ideals as products of the mind, in comparison with the world as perceived through the senses. In art idealism is the tendency to represent things as aesthetic sensibility would have them rather than as of young people, while teaching them leadership skills and personal responsibility. Community-oriented projects [allow] students to apply newly learned skills to real-world situations, thus increasing retention. [These projects] increase pride in the community; help reduce vandalism The intentional and malicious destruction of or damage to the property of another. The intentional destruction of property is popularly referred to as vandalism. It includes behavior such as breaking windows, slashing tires, spray painting a wall with graffiti, and [and] discourage graffiti graffiti Form of visual communication, usually illegal, involving the unauthorized marking of public space by an individual or group. Technically the term applies to designs scratched through a layer of paint or plaster, but its meaning has been extended to other markings. , bullying Bullying Chowne, Parson Stoyle terrorizes parish; kidnaps children. [Br. Lit.: The Maid of Sker, Walsh Modern, 94–95] Claypole, Noah bully; becomes thief in Fagin’s gang. [Br. Lit. and school violence; or provide assistance to the needy. Q: What challenges do teachers face when implementing online collaborative learning? A: The four most cited challenges ... seem to be finding appropriate learning partners, managing the relationships with partner classes, managing the data produced by the project, and individual assessment of student achievement. The best way to overcome these challenges is to participate in one of the "classroom-tested" projects [on Global Schoolhouse] that have been around for a long time, like GeoGame, Global Grocery List, Travel Buddies, Noon Observation or Westward Ho! These projects have experienced facilitators, content exemplars, assessment models and a proven track record of success. Q: What makes classroom collaboration effective? A: Students are active learners who construct knowledge, rather than passively absorb it. Effective collaboration requires coordinated scheduling, common communication tools and mutually accepted goals and objectives. Well-designed online collaborative learning projects provide students with unique and highly motivating learning experiences that would not be available to them within the traditional classroom walls. Yvonne Marie Andres is CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Global SchoolNet Foundation, which partners with schools, communities and businesses to provide online collaborative learning programs. She co-founded Global Schoolhouse, gsh.lightspan.com. |
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