EDU710: Reflection on Module 2

What challenges exist as students work collaboratively as opposed to working alone?

Whenever we start a project in my class that is to be completed collaboratively we have our usual issues of who wants to, or not to, work with whom, how is the work divided, and/or who is going to do what part and how.  However, there are many positive aspects to working collaboratively.  It promotes discussion within the group.  No one opinion is correct, the students must work together to share their thoughts and ideas. and agree on how to proceed.  Mostly, it is successful.  

I have not included the use of technology beyond the usual internet search, image sharing and word processing. In the readings this week I was most intrigued by the article on the use of wikis. I am familiar with the concept, but the articles and offshoots  highlighted the benefits of online collaboration while using wikis. It makes sense to me that the use of wikis or other online collaborative tools would increase both creativity and productivity. This past week we, two of my classmates and I, wrote a paper collaboratively for one of our other classes. We utilized google docs writing and editing on the same document while at the same time discussing it on google hangouts. Use of online collaborative writing also allows for flexibility. Students are not confined to working on their projects in the classroom only. If one student is absent or does not have the required text in class they can still contribute at a later time.  It would only stand to reason that working collaboratively is advantageous to working alone.  The article “Online Collaborative Inquiry: Classroom Blogging Ventures and Multiple Literacies” by Arzt (2012) discussed advantages of blogging and the responsibilities of teachers to help students become proficient at using “technology as a tool”.  The piece on quad blogging between classes around the world was impressive and certainly fits the criteria of collaborative learning.