Interactive and Collaborative Learning

Student education is becoming more and more reliant upon the technologies we use, and not the tools provided by the teacher. To move forward into the contemporary classroom, educators must adopt these technologies as their own to better meet the needs of the students born in Generation Z.

This week, we explored a range of interactive and collaborative learning tools that can potentially enhance the learning experience in the classroom. These tools were:

·         Interactive Learning Objects

·         Mapping

·         Collaborative Authoring

·         Online Concept Mapping

·         Online Timelines

The use of these tools in the classroom are not necessarily a new tool, but are expanding and developing in such ways that they are becoming more readily available, and more beneficial as forms of teaching students. The elements of a Creative Classroom Framework (the New Media Consortium, 2014), has six elements listed under Learning Practices; Learning by Exploring, Learning by Creating, Learning by Playing, Self-regulated Learning, Personalised Learning and Peer-to-Peer Learning. These six elements can be related back to the above five tools, as they describe how they can benefit the students.

An overview of the technical aspects: what can this technology do?

The online concept mapping program, Text2Mindmap, is basic way to create effective and multilayered mind maps online.

 

 

As you can see in the image above, on the left-hand side of the screen is a text box and on the right-hand side, is a default mind map showing the capabilities of the program. To use this program, you fill in the left hand text field, and you press tab to create a branch off the title above. Each time a new connection is created, it can be clicked and dragged and then locked into place.

 

This technology allows for students to easily expand upon ideas in a fun and interactive way. Students can easily create mind maps using Text2mindmap, with minimal input and assistance from the Teacher. This system does not have the ability to multi-author, but can be used in Peer-to-peer Learning (the New Media Consortium, 2014) in a collaborative group work setting. Therefore, Text2Mindmap can increase the learning outcomes of a group, when discussing and developing projects.

 

SAMR Model

Redefinition: Group tasks can be enhanced using mind-mapping tools such Text2Map. The tasks can be enhanced by using this tool to quickly expand upon the task. By saving the mind-map, the URL for the saved document can be sent to other students to continue working on or expanding upon the task.

Modification: You can redesign ordinary group discussions to have more interactive learning experience. Unlike traditional mind-mapping, you can continue to expand upon the idea without the prospect of running out of room.

Augmentation: This can be a direct substitute for traditional mind-mapping done on paper, the white board, or even when creating them in a Word document, with enhancements with fixed connections between points, and the ability to create a larger mind-maps without running out of space.

Substitution: This can be a direct substitute for traditional mind-mapping tools, with no functional change. Pen to paper can be just as effective as using Text2Mindmap.