In looking at this week’s blog post I think the biggest idea that I would incorporate into my own classroom would be questions. I believe this simple idea can be the foundation of creating an online presence. According to Tina Stavredes there are a variety of questions that can be used to aid learners’ thinking. Stavredes discusses the Paul-Elder Model of Critical Thinking and how we can use clarity, accuracy, precision, logic, and fairness question to help learners evaluate information during learning and think critically in discussion activities. (pg 110).
I think so often collaborative discussions are not as in depth as they could be because of the types of questions being asked. Let’s take for example the topic of immigration and at the surface this topic could be approached very politically and lead to a discussion that leads people feeling alienated. But with using the Paul-Elder Model of Critical Thinking we can have an educated and in depth conversation that leads to a very productive conversation.
In a classroom, being able to relate with the other students is something very important. With the use of the critical thinking model discussed previously the stage is set for a classroom build on understanding and a desire to understand an idea from all sides.
During group conversations it will be my job to help guide the students to ensure they are safe and respectful. I can do this by communicating clearly with my students the expected learning outcomes. They need to know what they are learning as well as how their learning will be graded and specific instructions to help them be successful (Stavredes, 2011).
Next I need to create the environment that students will use when working on a collaborative project this could include, blogs, classroom set up, class time, or office hours meetings. I then need to model the process of how students will complete the assignment. My most important role in group collaborative projects will be to guide the process. I will need to monitor how each team is doing and have constant check in opportunities for students to bring up any questions or concerns. Lastly, I need to evaluate my process. I need to see what worked and what didn’t and make changes to improve my process for next time.
Effective Online Teaching: Foundations and Strategies for Student Success. (2011) (Vol. 1). San Francisco, CA.
Recognizing your role as a guide who keeps students safe and respectful when addressing hot topics of conversation is key. I'm also impressed at your recognition of continuous improvement of the process-that's a characteristic of reflective teaching.
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