Big Idea #6

What is the role of collaboration in understanding?  This question reveals my social constructivist nature - how much do we build understanding through collaboration, interaction, etc.  And if it helps increase understandings and knowledge then what is the responsibility, and how do we build in collaboration in learning particularly in virtual environments?  And if it helps in learning, how can it help in teaching?  As librarians we are often collaborators in teaching, so it helps to understand or at least considered its role in teaching and learning.

I think that collaboration is integral to understanding.  We can all “know” something, but can we truly understand it if we haven’t looked at it from other possible angles, or discussed or questioned it with someone else?  I don’t think that we can have really learned until we have had the opportunity to interact with another.    The AASL standards state, “Learning is enhanced by opportunities to share and learn with others” (p. 3).  We build our understanding by discussing, questioning, and exploring ideas.  In order to comprehensively study and understand a topic, we must reach out to collaborate with others.

In response to Big Idea #1, I stated:

“While reading Chapter 2 of Understanding by Design (2005),  I couldn’t help but think that one way of defining understanding is understanding=interpretation.  Understanding brings us meaning, and that meaning differs according to our own experiences and ways of looking at things.  We all aren’t going to necessarily come to the same conclusions, or even take the same path to those conclusions when trying to achieve understanding.  The process and accomplishment of understanding, I believe, is unique to each learner.  There is not one goal toward understanding-there are many goals and understanding happens in layers.  Each layer that is constructed brings the learner to another level of understanding that is distinct.”

I think that collaboration is one of the layers that is necessary in order for us to understand.  Collaborating opens up doors that might otherwise stay closed.  Since each of us has such a unique and individual learning style, we will be able to learn something new from interaction and collaboration, therefore making our understanding even stronger.

As I have previously stated in my self-reflection on how I learn, I feel that I do my best learning and understanding while teaching, since I am engaged in collaboration with students.  Their questions, comments & responses challenge my own thinking and understanding, which is why I agree to the student-centered classroom approach as opposed to the “sage on the stage.”  How can you learn anything if there is no interaction or collaboration?  Lecturing and spewing out information without room for inquiry does not lead to learning or understanding.  I think that building collaboration in learning within virtual environments is in some ways easier than in the classroom.  Creating a sense of community through discussion forums, as well as group or partner projects, is how to build collaboration.  Sometimes within the classroom, dominant personalities take over, leaving students who are intimidated to not comment or share their opinions within the class.  I find that this isn’t the case within online learning, since a student is more likely to receive responses from multiple individuals, one of whom might share the same perspective.  In this sense, it makes students more comfortable and likely to share and participate in whatever discussion is taking place.

As soon as I began thinking about my Unit Plan topic and how I would approach it, my first instinct was to call my good friend (who also used to be my coworker in the middle school where we both taught) to bounce some ideas off of her.  She listened as I explained my ideas and how I would approach the assignment.  She offered comments as well as questions that made me think of additional questions and ideas that I wanted students to explore within the unit.  This is a perfect example of how collaboration plays a positive role in teaching. If we were teaching this unit together, we would both be coming from our unique perspectives as both learners and teachers, therefore creating a learning experience for students that would encompass all learning levels and styles.  Most, if not all teachers, do not exist and teach within a vacuum.  A good teacher learns, borrows, and builds upon other teachers’ experiences, whether good or bad, in order to create a classroom that is conducive to learning.

American Association of School Librarians (2007).  Standards for the 21^st-Century Learner.  Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards.

McTighe, J. & Wiggins, G.  (2005).  Understanding By Design.  New Jersey:  Pearson.

Big Idea #5

In what ways is online learning qualitatively different than face to face learning?  In this instance you get to pull on your own experiences as well as the readings, and answer as well as critically contribute to the debate surrounding online learning.

When I decided to return to school in order to pursue my MLIS, the options available to me were limited.  The closest accredited program for me would be at Rutgers University, which is about an hour and twenty minutes away from where I live.  Add the distance to my responsibilities as a parent and to my job, and I knew that online learning was what would work best for me.  Overall I have found that online learning is a lot more difficult than a face to face classroom situation.  Not only does it require one to be highly organized, but highly motivated as well.  As a student I found that in order to be successful, it was necessary for me to set deadlines for myself.  Yes of course there are deadlines set by the Professors, but I have to organize my time better to incorporate time for all of the readings as well as the contributions to the online discussion forums.  When you are attending a physical class it could be very easy to do the reading and show up to class and then decide whether or not you will take part in the discussion.  With online learning, each student is expected to participate in the discussion and I think that helps to motivate students to be more involved in what is going on in the “classroom.”

In Chapter 23 of Online Learning, Constance E. Wanstreet (2009) states, “Researchers and practitioners are in general agreement that interaction is a key variable in learning and satisfaction with distance education courses” (p. 425).  This is significant and although she does discuss how the definition of interaction varies according to each researcher, I personally feel that my own personal interaction (which I consider to be my contributions to the discussion forums and responses to my classmates’ expressions of ideas and thoughts) while taking online courses is significantly higher than it would be if I were in a face to face environment.  Usually what happens to me within a classroom is that I am so busy trying to absorb and reflect upon what other students are saying that I find it difficult to respond immediately.  After the class ends, however, I usually think of something that I would have like to have shared, but the moment has passed.  By the time the class meets again, it is usually time to move on to another topic and so on.  I really feel that the creation of an online community is conducive to continuous learning since students can respond multiple times to multiple classmates regarding various topics.  There would never be that kind of time within a traditional classroom.  I think that more is brought to the table in terms of the discussions and there is a lot more reflection and careful consideration that is utilized before students respond to posts.  Even after the teacher has moved on to another part of the class, it is still possible for those conversations to continue.  My point is that I feel there are more opportunities for learning in an online course.  Professors always want to share additional resources with students and it is definitely done easiest online.  It is a very simple task to post a link for an article, video, or a website for students to explore at their leisure. 

Sharing between the professor and the students as well as sharing between students is a much larger possibility with online learning as well.  I also think that with online learning there is more support available because if you have a question-you can simply post it on a Q&A board and usually you will have more than one response.  Working at your own convenience and your own schedule is a plus as well.  I strongly feel that online learning offers more tools for students to use to navigate and to support them throughout their own personal learning experiences.

Wanstreet, C. E.  (2009).  Interaction in Online Learning Environments:  A Review of the Literature.  In A. Orellana, T. Hudgins, & M. Simonson (Eds.), The Perfect Online Course (pages 425-442).  Nova Southeastern University:  Information Age Publishing.