Course Introduction

 

Module 1: Getting started with tablets at school

 

Module 2: Using tablets for content creation

 

Module 3: Using tablets for collaborative learning

 

Module 4: Using tablets for personalising learning & flipping the classroom

Welcome to Module 3

 Another great week on the course and plenty of excellent examples of learning happening amongst you. Make sure to watch Katja's summary of Module 2 and outlook to Module 3 below.  As last module, if your work is not mentioned here, this has nothing to do with the quality of your work but simply is down to the fact that we are not in a position to survey all of the work produced on the course. There are some links directly in the video for you to click but you can also access all the pieces of work mentioned by Katja using the links below the video.

 

You can find the script of the above video here and all of the examples Katja mentions in the video below:

 

At the end of this module you should have achieved the following learning objectives:

  1. Understanding of the concept of collaborative learning and how tablets can support this
  2. Reflected on strategies to develop effective group work
  3. Knowledge of at least a small number of apps that can be used for collaborative learning
  4. Identified some approaches for effectively assessing group work

3.1 Introduction to collaborative learning

Collaboration is one of the key 21st Century Skills and pretty much essential to modern life. But true collaboration is more than just simple group work and in fact quite difficult to achieve. Take a look at Katja's introduction to the topic of collaborative learning to get a sense of what collaboration in the classroom is all about and what role tablets can play in this. 

Then make sure to watch our little Portuguese friends (see Module 1) who will tell us why they enjoy working in groups.

After watching the videos, think about the process of forming groups, a seemingly simple task that is very important for a successful collaborative learning project. How do you form groups of students for group work and why do you take this approach? Based on your experience what strategies of forming groups work and which do not work? Why? Share your ideas on these questions in the Padlet below and of course on your Learning Diary.

 

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3.2 Student collaboration with tablets

In the last section we discussed how to form groups. In this section we want to look at an example of effective group work happening at an Austrian school during the CCL project. It makes real effective use of the tablets by utilizing their mobility as well as features such as the camera, GPS and a variety of apps.

Take a look at this video and think about the challenges and pitfalls you might face when organizing this type of collaborative project. Then answer the following videos on the Padlet below and of course in your Learning Diary: How do you keep your students focused and on track during collaborative projects? How do you ensure all students contribute to the task? If you have organised a similar project share your experiences (positive and negative) here.

 

Created with Padlet
Download document: script Module 3_section 3.2.pdf

3.3 School-to-school collaboration with tablets

School-to-school collaboration was another scenario of the CCL project and successfully implemented in some of the CCL schools. Below you will find two videos outlining how two schools integrated tablets into their teaching and learning by developing a school-to-school collaboration project. Note that not all parts of the videos focus on the school-to-school collaboration project but provide a useful backdrop for the situation of the schools. The relevant section for the first video starts at 2:00min and for the second video at 2:30min.

As you will see both schools made use of the fantastic eTwinning project which is a great platform to organize school-to-school collaboration projects in Europe. If you haven't yet heard of this project, make sure to visit the eTwinning page and take a look at the third video which highlights last year's winning project. For information about joining the eTwinning community see here.

We know many of you on the course are already etwinners, so take this opportunity to share your successful school-to-school collaboration projects here, in particular if they involved tablets. And even if you are no etwinner yet, what do you think are the success factors for a school-to-school collaboration project? Share your thoughts in the Padlet below.

 

 

Created with Padlet
 

Download document: script Module 3_section 3.3 (1).pdf
Download document: script Module 3_section 3.3 (2).pdf

3.4 Live Webinar & Case Study: Assessment of group work with tablets

This section will focus on a very important topic that is often seen as a key stumbling block to changing pedagogical practices: assessment.

Collaborative work and in particular collaborative skills are much more difficult to assess in comparison to simple knowledge acquisition. Many of us have probably experienced students complaining about their group mates and blaming them for a low grade after doing some group work. But with some careful planning effective assessment of group work can be achieved. And tablets can be a valuable tool for students and teachers in such an assessment process. So make sure to join us for this 2nd webinar of the course with two teachers reporting from their work on assessment of group work with tablets in the Creative Classrooms Lab project. If you cannot join, the recording of the webinar will be posted here shortly afterwards.

Case Study

Please also make sure to sure to read this short case study report on collaboration and assessmentwith tablets and then respond to the following questions on the Padlet below and on your Learning Diary: What other strategies have you used to assess group work? What are the main challenges for you when it comes to assessing group work?

Webinar 2: Assessment of Group Work with Tablets

You can now view the recording of the webinar below. You can download the presentations of the webinar presenters at the end of this section (just scroll down).

 

Date and time: Monday, 27th April 2015, 16:00h Brussels time (CEST)

How to access the webinar: Click HERE. The webinar is run via the webex platform. For a short introduction to the webex platform see the video below.

Topic of the webinar: The webinar will feature presentations from two teachers involved in the Creative Classroom Lab project and who were working on the collaboration and assessment with tablets scenarios. The teachers will be speaking about their experience and respond to participants' questions.

About the presenters:

Daniela is a contract professor of English language at the University of Naples “Istituto Suor Orsola Benincasa” and a professor of didactics and multimedia teaching for in-service and trainee teachers at the “Orientale” University in Naples. She is also secondary school teacher of English, teacher trainer, e-tutor, forum moderator and author of learning objects and digital contents. She is the coordinator of the TESOL Italy/Naples group, a member of the Executive Committee of TESOL Italy and editor of the TESOL Italy newsletter.

 

Wolfgang Ӧlzant is Quality manager, e-Learning Coordinator and teacher for German, Geography, Multimedia and Business Informatics at the Ski-Akademi Schladming in Austria. The Ski-Akademi Schladming offers students the possibility to combine their school education with a focus on knowledge in business and sports and their professional training in several ski disciplines. He is one of the 5 CCL teachers from Austria.

 

Created with Padlet
 

3.5 Apps for collaborative learning

In this module's App for Teaching section we have three interesting videos to share with you. The first video introduces you to a very interesting tool called TeamUp that is easy to use and can help you with forming groups for collaborative learning. It might even solve some of the problems you identified in section 3.1 earlier in the module. You can access the tool directly here.

 

The second video provides an overview of the Actionbound app which featured in the video on student collaboration in section 3.2. A big thank you to Peter Stöckelmaier, the teacher in the video, for creating this. The app is available for iOS and Android devices. More information can be foundhere. If you have problems watching the video below, this might be due to a compatibility problem with the Office Mix tool which was used to create the video. The video is best viewed with a Microsoft operating system and a browser with Silverlight compatibility.

The final video in this section provides an overview of a range of technology tools that can help you develop collaborative learning. If you have participated in our Future Classroom Scenario's course last year you will recognize this video. 

 

Created with Padlet
 

3.6 Additional resources

More examples, interviews, video materials and other documentation supporting the collaboration scenario can be found below:


3.7 Module 3 activity

This module's activitiy focuses again on adding to your Learning Diary. Add to your diaries the answers to the key questions answered during the module (same as in Module 1). You can simply copy and paste your answers from the Padlets in the previous sections. As a reminder, here are the key questions from the module:
 
  1. How do you form groups of students for group work and why do you take this approach? Based on your experience what strategies of forming groups work and which do not work? Why?
  2. How do you keep your students focused and on track during collaborative projects? How do you ensure all students contribute to the task?
  3. What strategies have you used to assess group work? What are the main challenges for you when it comes to assessing group work?
 
And of course don't forget to add any other resources and ideas you have come across to your Learning Diary. Due to the issues with Tricider (too many posts), please post your Learning Diaries in the relevant category of the forum.

3.8 Module 3 quiz

To pass this test, you must correctly answer at least 60% of the questions.

According to Deirdre Butler in section 3.1, students are only truly collaborating if their work is interdependent of each other (the work of one cannot be a success without the work of another)

Actionbound is a platform that provides a safe environment for school-to-school collaboration projects.

According to the Flemish teacher speaking about their school-to-school collaboration project in section 3.3 what is a key purpose of such a project?

According to the Czech school-to-school collaboration project introduced in section 3.3, what is important to consider when collaborating with another school that uses a different type of tablet?

How does the Austrian teacher in section 3.2 ensure students don't get distracted and stay on task during the paper chase?

According to the Austrian teacher presenting his work in section 3.2, for what kind of activity that can be used in many different subjects, does the tablet lends itself well?