Bleything

= Collaborative Classroom =

What does a collaborative classroom look like at Springfield High School?

A collaborative classroom is one that involves students working together toward a common goal. From this process students learn to take charge, allocate responsibility, and check one another. They learn that they have to respect one another's ideas even though they disagree, and use democratic processes to strategize.

Collaborative classrooms include the following characteristics in common with constructivist classrooms.1) Shared knowledge among teachers and students, 2) Shared authority among teachers and students, 3) Teachers as mediators, 4) Heterogeneous groupings of students.

Collaborative classrooms can more easily be achieved with the use of technology to enhance shared communication. Wiki sites can be used to allow input from multiple students and communication of ideas. Document cameras and presentation software can be used to communicate information to large goups of people at a time. Computers and 21st century skills are an essential part of a modern collaborative classroom.

What changes or implementations do we need to make to move toward a collaborative high school?

Since collaborative classrooms can more easily be achieved with the use of technology to enhance shared communication, major upgrades in the technological tools are helpful. Wiki sites can be used to allow input from multiple students and communication of ideas. Document cameras and presentation software can be used to communicate information to large goups of people at a time. Computers and 21st century skills are an essential part of a modern collaborative classroom.

Teacher professional development including readily available packaged lesson plans to aid this process are also incredibly helpful.

What does YOUR classroom look like as a collaborative classroom? Add to your page and read others!!