Blog 7 - Collaborative Learning & Related Tools Google Classroom & Itslearning (LMS)

   The value placed on collaborative learning as a teaching approach reflects the value placed on forms of cooperation in society as a whole. However, if this is the case, we would want to issue a cautionary notice. We believe that what is considered relevant for society only partially legitimizes the choice for collaborative learning. The choice of a particular teaching style should never be solely based on current philosophy. This takes us to the second major reason for collaborative learning's popularity as a teaching method. Collaborative learning is a natural fit for evolving perspectives on learning and the nature of knowledge. Giving the learner a more active and productive role than in the past is now deemed wise. Furthermore, this knowledge-building process is seen as a process of interaction and negotiation with other actors in the learning environment, such as the teacher, fellow students, and teaching materials, rather than as a solitary endeavor. Knowledge is no longer to be regarded as absolute and bound to a single person, but rather as relative to a community and susceptible to change, according to this viewpoint. (Linden et al., 2000)

Learning Management Systems

Google Classroom 

The use of google classroom motivated my students. They can upload and share their homework.

They can send messages, they can add notes when they upload their homework and they get feedback. 

It is a great tool that allows collaboration between learners-learners and learners-teachers.

Reference 

Linden, Jos Van Der, Erkens, Gijsbert, Schmidt, Henk, Renshaw, Peter. (2000). Collaborative Learning. R. J. Simons et al. (eds.), New Learning. 37-54. 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.