Chapter 6

Community Building with technology

Communication

• The internet allows communication to expand beyond geographical boundaries.

• Communication tools enable relationships to be developed and maintained.

• Tools include Social Software such as: wikis, blogs, podcasting, and social networking spaces such as facebook and myspace.

The Purpose of these tools is:

• to bring people together and support online communication which builds communities,

• to share knowledge which leads to innovation and growth,

• and to build communities through intentional learning.

Knowledge Building

• Learners build a collection of ideas, then develop a hypothesis. Next they will validate, amend or reject the hypothesis by examining the evidence.

• This process combines writing and discussion.• This method allows the students to “own the

knowledge” resulting in them being more engaged in the learning process.

http://www.knowledgeforum.com/

Constructing Knowledge with Wikis

• Similar to Knowledge Forum, this environment allows students to participate in a knowledge-building community.

• This type of web site allows users to edit the information.

• The editing feature has the potential of causing the information not to be accurate.

• This however is a danger in all web pages.www.wikiindex.com

Blogs

• A blog was originally intended to be used as a journal for people to post their thoughts.

• Blogs have evolved into very interactive spaces.

• Blog interfaces create group culture and are chronologically ordered from the most recent post, making them easy to follow.

Educational Uses of Blogs

• Expert Created Blogs- Created by someone other than the student (ie. teachers, field experts)

• Examples of blogs created by teachers

• http://mhspsychology.blogspot.com/

• http://www.teenreads.blogspot.com/

• http://www.1cheese.blogspot.com

Student Created Blogs

• Students define the purpose to create a blog of their own.

• The link below shows teacher and student created blogs.

• http://edublogs.org/

Why blog and What to Consider

• To be able to connect and communicate with others that have the same interests.

• To build background knowledge through virtual trips.

• Clearly defined objectives are important to keep blogs educational in focus.

• Students should not use their names. • Entry may be reviewed by the teacher

prior to a post.

Building International Communities

• These groups allow for diverse students in different geographic areas to make connections with each other.

• Global groups are developed on cultural differences as a way to broaden students’ perspectives.

• International communities are motivating to students.

iEARN Learning Circles

• Learning circles use constructive learning in small diverse groups.

• The goal is to develop a deeper understanding through the construction of a final product.

• Learning circles connect teachers and students from around the world.

• This creates a high level of team work and collaboration between schools.

• http://www.iearn.org/circles/

Global SchoolNet Foundation (GSN)

• The GSN community was set up to support students as they communicate, collaborate, and learn from one another.

• GSN provides teachers with a location where collaborative project ideas are shared.

• Over 1 million students in 100 countries participate in GSN projects.

GSN contd…..

http://www.globalschoolnet.org/index.cfm

Kid Link

• This is a project intended to interconnect secondary children in a global dialogue.

• Kid link is available in 30 different languages and is use by students in 170 countries.

• Students actively participate in collaborative projects where they insert approved comments and annotations.

Kid link contd…

http://www.kidlink.org/kidspace/index.php

Participation in International Communities

• Participation promotes international connections among young people that leads to more tolerant worldview from those involved.

• Teachers as well as students benefit from the international collaboration.

Professional Teacher Communities

• These communities end teacher isolation and create networks to give teachers a place to exchange ideas and information with other professionals.

• The more teachers use technology themselves the more they will expose their students to experiences.

• http://tappedin.org/tappedin/• http://www.teachertalk.com.au/forum/

Discussing Interests

• http://www.usenet.com/• People are social creatures who desire

conversation with others.• Electronic bulletin boards provide a place for

people with common interests to communicate.• Be warned, sometimes the conversations are

not monitored and etiquette is not required.• http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/dir/

Schools___Education/

Conclusion

• Learning communities grow out of the common interests of students collaborating and supporting each other towards a learning goal.

• Web 2.0 technology allows for students to collaborate on an international level like never before.

to think about…

• What are some ways that you could use the technology in this chapter to support your curriculum and student learners?

• Post your thought on the blog below under Chapter 6 thoughts.

• http://luckyirishguytom.blogspot.com/