Collaboration

In my experience, I do believe that humans have the instinct ability to “interact and work as a group”. I believe this to be true based on examples: (1) The International Space Station: a collective effort of the Russian Federation, the United States, Japan, Italy, and the European Union; (2) The development of the Common Core Standards: 48 states have adopted and agreed upon a curriculum to be taught to students for grades K-12; Farming cooperatives: when farmers allow for supporters to pay a fee to assist with maintaining a farm and in return get product from the farm; and (3) Amway Global partnerships with other businesses. These examples come from differing fields (science, education, farming, and business), but they provide insight of the expansion of collaboration in multiple fields.

Constructivists believe that knowledge is constructed as learners attempt to make sense of their experiences; and learning includes: reasoning, critical thinking, understanding and use of knowledge, self-regulation, and mindful reflections (Driscoll, 2005). Technology lends itself to constructivist principles because it allows students to work in collaborative groups or independently to construct knowledge. Collaboration is learning via a social process that requires that the learner is an active participate of the learning process (Serce &Yildirim, 2006). For this reason, Collaboration is an example of constructivist principles. Learners can utilize applications such as wikis, blogs, social networking, and document sharing. Via these technological advancements learners have the ability to collaborate utilizing synchronous or asynchronous modes of communication.  Due to the fact that the work environment is rapidly moving toward employees thinking creatively, solving problems, and making decisions as a team (Serce &Yildirim, 2006). As educators it is in our students’ best interest that we prepare them for the work force of tomorrow by providing with lessons that utilize both collaboration and technology.

Case Study that supports collaboration as an effective tool for learning.

Serce, F. C. & Yildirim. S. (2006). A Web-Based Synchronous Collaborative Review Tool: A Case Study of an On-line Graduate Course Educational Technology & Society, 9 (2), 166-177. Retrieved from  http://www.ifets.info/journals/9_2/14.pdf

References

Amway Global (2012). Partner Stores A-Z: List of Stores. Retrieved from http://www.amway.com/Shop/Product/PartnerStore.aspx

Common Core State Standards Initiative (2012). In the States. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/in-the-states

International Space Station (2012). Module List. Retrieved from http://sites.google.com/site/issinspire/home/design/modules

National Council of Farmer Cooperative (2012). National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Representing the Business Interests of Agriculture.  Retrieved from http://www.ncfc.org/

Serce, F. C. & Yildirim. S. (2006). A Web-Based Synchronous Collaborative Review Tool: A Case Study of an On-line Graduate Course Educational Technology & Society, 9 (2), 166-177. Retrieved from  http://www.ifets.info/journals/9_2/14.pdf