Focusing on Meaningful Interactions
within My Online Blended Learning Course

This week, we were assigned to read Bate’s (2019) Online Collaborative Learning, from Chapter 4 section 4. Although I feel as if I have a pretty good understanding of the meaning of collaboration, I felt as if I learned a lot about constructivist teaching and the way that students are encouraged and supported through their learning. From the basis of constructivist theory, collaborative learning theory (OCL) emerged. It made me rethink my idea of collaboration and how I define and implement strategies that promote collaboration in my teaching. Harasim (2017) elaborates:

OCL provides a model of learning in which students are encouraged and supported to work together to create knowledge; to invent, to explore ways to innovate, and, by so doing, to seek the conceptual knowledge needed to solve problems rather than recite what they think is the right answer… Learning is defined as conceptual change and is key to building knowledge.

The article further discusses how discourse plays a vital role in knowledge construction, and that supplemental materials are chosen in such a way that supports the discussions, rather than having discussions based on resources (p. 172). The article continues further into the Community of Inquiry Model and discusses several points that are associated with successful online discussions (p. 174). Some of the principles included are:

• Appropriate technology
• Clear guidelines on student online behaviour
• Student orientation and preparation
• Clear goals
• Choice of appropriate topics
• Clearly defining learner roles and expectations
• Regular instructor presence

Like reading a food label to see which ingredient the item contains the most of, I looked at the top of the list and found the very first point outlined is appropriate technology. So, with that, let’s take a peek of some of the teaching and educational technology tools I have used, and plan to use.

Google Workplace

Because our division is very involved with Google Workplace, I have implemented and already used a variety of the tools that I have access to.

• Google Forms—I have used this to check in to gauge student learning and understanding. I have made a quick form for students to summarize their learning, and to check-in with the teacher about how they are feeling, and if they need any extra assistance.
  
• Google Slides—I like using Slides to walk students through the learning, as well as it provides space for teacher notes and additional activities. Students can also use Slides to showcase or practice their learning.
  
• Google Docs—Getting students to work together can be tricky (especially during a pandemic), but docs is a great tool to get students to work together, collaborate or be able to work on their assignments wherever and whenever they want.
  
• Google Chat—This is a great way to get students to communicate in a non-threatening way (this has to be taught of course). I like adding students into groups so that I can be a part of the groups and monitor them at the same time.
  
• Google Meet-Up—Like Zoom (with a few fewer features presently), it’s a great tool to interact with students and get guest speakers into the classroom. You can teach a lesson, check-in for understanding, answer face-to-face questions, etc.

Feedback Tools

• Flipgrid—students can share their learning, predictions, reflections, or questions in a quick video format. This is an interesting way to get students engaged in the subject matter. I incorporated this in my first module, and plan to use it throughout the entire course.
  
• Kahoot—I always get a kick out of how much students and adults like this. It’s an easy way to learn something new or reinforce learning. I have also used it at the end of units to get students to summarize their learning in a fun way, that we can do together as a whole group.
  
• Spiral & Plickers—although I intended on using this, I haven’t found a place to fit these two in. Both provide multiple choice feedback, and Plickers is a way to get feedback without needing technology for each student. I want to find a way to make it work, but I think that for the two modules, I won’t be able to get it in without overdoing it.

Collaboration Tools (Other than Google)

• Jamboard—in the first module, students work together to show their thinking, while being able to see what other people think.
  
• Padlet—like Jamboard, students are able to work together in one place, recording their thinking and learning in a more creative way than say a Google Doc.

Presentation Tools

• Canva—I enjoy all of the options that Canva for Educators offers. It’s visually appealing and I can be as creative as I want to. I used this in my first module to create the meat and potatoes of the lesson. I also plan to use it in my second module as well for the teaching content. I wish it transferred over to a PowerPoint or Google Doc better, as the animations and transitions are limited compared to PowerPoint.
  
• Mentimeter—Although we were introduced to this in class when registering for it, I realized that I had already made an account years ago. This seems like a great tool to us in the classroom for presentations. I think that I would use it as one option out of several for students to choose to use to show their learning and understanding.
  
• WeVideo—I hope to use this for students to share their learning. I could also use it to make how-to videos or lesson content videos. It is a work in progress, that’s for sure!
  
• Screencastify & PowerPoint—I intend to use these to create videos of my course, or to walk through my course. I think students would also benefit from using these tools, however, as I said previously, I don’t want to add in too much and overwhelm everyone and forget why I am doing what I am in the first place.

Course Set-Up

My modules/lessons begin with students reflecting or making predictions. Then, we usually discuss as a whole group, where I show them examples or teach them directly. Then, they have time to discuss with their peers what we are learning. Then, multiple times through the lesson, students are asked to do a task on their own, with a partner or small group, and then as a large group. Therefore, students are guided in levels throughout their learning—a lot of support, some support, and then on their own. This way, educational technology tools are implemented throughout the lesson for different purposes and are used interchangeably throughout the course. Sometimes students may use a tool on their own to show their understanding, while other times they may be using it as a large group to contribute to a group discussion, etc. 

Guidelines for Use

Even though teaching and educational technology tools can be overwhelming, fun, interactive, engaging, etc. clear guidelines need to implemented so that good pedagogy is still present, and the tools are being used to supplement the learning instead of being in lieu of the learning. To ensure that the tools are being used to promote meaningful interactions, I have limited the amount that I am using per lesson. Although I want students to learn about many of the different options out there, I do not want them to be overwhelmed with the tools that I am using instead of the learning they should be doing. To try to ensure that learning is more meaningful, I hope to use the tools to support what we are discussing and to provide opportunities for students to engage with each other and the subject matter. I also hope that students will be able to use their creativity to showcase their new learning, or questions that they may have.

I also want to ensure that I am creating useful materials for a blended approach, that is more than just making worksheets digital. I think all too often, we think that by making our paper worksheets digital that we are doing a good job of using technology and getting students to do their work. However, we know that it doesn’t work that way, and students are usually completing the same amount of their work as they did in the classroom. If we think this is engaging, although it is a start, we are missing the mark on what we could be doing to engage our students and make the learning more authentic and natural. The greater part of learning comes with interactions with teachers and peers, and time to discuss their learning in real time. Therefore, I have created many opportunities within my course and modules for students and teachers to discuss, collaborate, question, share ideas, etc.

Trying to stay on top of the trend will ensure burnout at a quick rate, so I hope to include tools that are relevant for what we are learning and for the age group that I am teaching. Checking in with students often, but not too often, is a good way to gauge what students do or do not like and alter some of the tools going forward. Keep in mind, that sometimes a group of students won’t say they like much of what you have planned, and trying to engage them may be tricky. I hope to include relevant, meaningful, and supportive tools to help students embrace and absorb their new learnings and to be able to use the tools to enhance their learning.

Go Ahead, and Share Away!

Like always, I would love to hear from you. I apologize that my post was quite late (I guess my version of late–prior to the due date), although, I would really love to hear what you have to say!

1. What teaching and educational technology tools are you currently using or want to try out in your classroom/workplace?
   
2. What tools do you use to engage students in learning and collaboration? How do you best use these tools?
   
3. What advice would you give to someone just beginning to incorporate technology into their classrooms/workplaces? What stories/experiences do you have that you would share with them?
   
4. What teaching and technology tools are on-trend in your schools or workplaces right now? (What tools do people around you love to use?)

References

Bates, A.W. (2019). Teaching in a Digital Age–Second Edition. Vancouver, BC.: Tony Bates Associates Ltd.

Harasim, L. (2012). Learning Theories and Online Technologies. New York, NY.: Routledge.