Dr. Julie Mueller Faculty of EducationWilfrid Laurier University

College Case Conference, Humber College, May 22, 2015

jmueller@wlu.ca

Developing Community in Collaborative Learning Environments for the Co-

Construction of Knowledge

@jmuellerprof#HumberCase

Building Community

https://todaysmeet.com Join using your first name.

Share with us a brief description of what you would like to get out of today’s session.

Who are you and why are you here?140 Characters

Social Constructivist Theory1. Learning is an active, social process (http://www.ucdoer.ie/index.

php/Education_Theory/Constructivism_and_Social_Constructivism)

2. Digital technology supports self-regulated, collaborative construction of knowledge (Bates, n.d.; Mueller et al., 2012)

3. Authentic assessment engages learners and promotes transfer of knowledge (Dochy, 2001; Mueller, 2013)

Mishra & Koehler(2006)

Just-in-Time problem-solving approach to digital technology implementation

Individualized and authentic problems; access to experts outside of course

Collaborative learning with formative assessment and feedback from peers, instructors, external audience

Q. How will learners interact with content and construct knowledge in an authentic and individualized manner?

Q. How will learners connect and interact with their instructor?

Q. How will learners interact and communicate with each other ?

http://bit.ly/1ejLXkg

21st Century Learning

Social Presence

Authentic Assessment

Co-Construction of Knowledge

SOCIAL PRESENCE

● less formal opportunity to become part of a learning circle

● break down larger classes into workable groups <20

● peer assessment and support; include opportunities within the course that support and in fact, demand, collaboration and self-regulation

CO-CONSTRUCTION OF KNOWLEDGE

Wikiwww.pbworks.com

Google Drivewww.google.ca/drive

Forms

Data Analysis

Sharing

AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENT

● choice● relevance ● purpose● audience● peer assessment● self-assessment● timely and specific feedback

Benefits of Using Twitter ● useful in creating a dialogue between students to help refine and clarify

problems-receiving tweets helped me to think more critically about my problem-started with doubts, quickly shown it is a very effective tool for class communication-Twitter helped me remember a lot of my classmates’ names and faces

● anytime, anywhere access creates flexibility● personalized content from expansive resources; students interacting with

content ● thinking is visible; student voice is heard; connection with professor● co-construction of knowledge across disciplines with transfer to other

courses and contexts

Challenges in Using Twitter● overwhelming and demanding in volume and frequency

● blurs the lines of academic and social

● some inappropriate content

● requires students to create on-line account

● content is publically available

Exploration and CollaborationTake a minute and post your choice for the final portion of the workshop in our TodaysMeet room:1. Talk about challenges and considerations with the

technologies and strategies presented.2. See more specific examples of strategies and

assessment tools.3. Discuss and create list of additional strategies people

are using. 4. Explore specific application to Case Study.