I have been thinking on learning and teaching much lately. Our topic 3: Learning in communities – networked collaborative learning – is, I must admit, a little bit out of my comfort zone, even if I had good learning experiences using collaborative learning. I believe it is a little bit out of my comfort zone because I am not used to using this method as a teacher in a wider sense. I think I could develop myself here as a teacher.
I think networked collaborative learning strategies have come to stay. Together we are stronger than alone. It is proved that group work in general gives more than individual work in common. I consider collaborative learning as a central 21st century skill. Globalization has come to stay, our environment is much more diverse than before in different aspects. We live in a hybrid space where global and local values interact. The word collaboration pops up often in various kinds of situations – also in work life. As teachers we want our students to get proper skills facing the work life outside school. Leadership and ability to take initiatives are central skills. Co-operation is strongly related to collaborative learning. Because the world is being digitalized all the time methods using digital media are essential for future learning. Collaborate learning in combination with responsive and constructive feedback can be considered as keys to successful learning. The future we want is to prepare our students for the 21st century and creative thinking. https://www-jime.open.ac.uk/collections/special/doctoral-research-learning-in-an-open-world/
What is essential for creative thinking? I think it is
essential to consider how to develop learning platforms where creative thinking
is possible. We have to remember that learning requires space and time to study
on our own. Too much of an interactive learning space can be considered as counter productive. Many of us like to have a
quiet place where to learn. Learning requires concentration. Many students like
to talk in smaller groups. And in a smaller group you can reflect more successfully
than in a bigger group. I think
networked collaborative learning is based on topics and tasks that feel good
for students to work with – together with other students.
There are research on this topic. The ways in which
educators describe how open education is impacting their pedagogical designs is
interesting. https://jime.open.ac.uk/articles/10.5334/jime.512/
If group members of a networked collaborative learning groups feel a sense
of cohesion, they will experience the value in an online community. I feel that
this is what is I have felt in our ONL-group. That people come from different
backgrounds and different countries makes the discussions richer. The discussions
get kind of more aware of how matters are – globally. The demands of open
networked learning are global – it is good to notice that we all are dealing with
and within networked collaborate
learning groups. We all have same kind of problems and joys working with online
courses. This global approach deepens the understanding in many different ways.
The most important question that comes into mind is that the collaborative
learning –method is an excellent way to motivate students to work in groups.
