Shared Spaces and Collaboration
Why Collaboration?
Collaboration is one the 4 Cs of 21st Century Learning. The 4 Cs were instituted almost a decade ago now as a way to bridge the gap between the knowledge and skills students learn in school (math, science, reading, writing) and the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful in the real world (communication, collaboration, critical thinking, etc.). Collaboration is a particularly important skill because of Globalization and recent trends in technology. Collaboration means:
Promoting Collaboration with Shared Spaces...Shared Spaces are virtual spaces where individual students, groups of students and even teachers can all work together from individually connected devices to either create a shared artifact or problem solve. The application and use of shared spaces when done intentionally and thoughtfully can lead to all three aspects of collaboration as defined by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Shared Spaces exemplary of the Constructivist approach to teaching and are particularly useful with instructional strategies such as Problem-based Learning and Project-based Learning.
To the right is a commoncraft.com video on wikis. Wikis are an excellent Shared Space tool that allows users to collaborate via the addition of text, images and internal and external hyperlinks. Wikis can be used to develop an encyclopedia of information, to write a short story that includes chapters, to create student generated study guides and so on. To the right is also a TEDtalk by Jane McGonical on the power of online games. Games can be an excellent Shared Space tool as well. Students can work together in the same virtual world to solve problems related to math, science, history, you name it! Perhaps even more powerful, and you'll find out more by watching to video, gamers (users) are now even being called upon to collaboratively solve the problems faced by the World! |
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