Thank you for coming. How are you doing? :)
Today, I am going to talk about some benefits and disadvantages on online collaborative learning in ESL contexts and introduce very useful tools!
In fact, I did give a try on collaborative work in the class today not as a teacher but a student. We were divided in groups and asked to discuss about advantages and disadvantages of online collaboration in ELS classrooms and write an essay about it using the online collaboration tools. Does it sound exciting, doesn't it? Each of use was of course supposed to be somewhere in different places. (Thus, no talking happened.)
To complete the essay, idea sharing would be the first step. To brainstorm about the essay, we used the tool, "Stormboard."
One minute review on Stormbard from YouTube
Go to the website: https://stormboard.com
Stormboard is a synchronizing collaboration tool that uses virtual sticky notes for brainstorming and sharing ideas. If you create an account, you can create a collaboration platform and invite your colleagues to participate in or can just join a project where you are invited.
When you create new one, just select a template from different types of it like just blank one, calander, problem solving one, etc. You can also choose the sticky note type which is most appropriate for your project characteristics. You can text, draw, make comments on it and even upload files, images and videos in ONE sticky note! I found this very useful for the first step of process-writing in groups in our classroom.
In line with theoritical bases for benefits of collaboration learning at both the level of cognitition and that of social cohesion, L2 learners can co-construct their language knowledge and understading through collaboration learning process where peer interaction and practice of scaffording occurs. Of course brainstorming is the first phase of collaboration work and THIS tool fits for quick exchanging ideas and feedback. Why don't you try first on your personal plan like making trip itinerary with friedns?
Other very useful collaboration tools are also here:
Regards
Yuna
Hey Yuna. It's a really nicely written post about collaborative learning in general, and more specifically, stormboard. Which one was your favourite tool out of all the ones we looked at in class? Mine was probably Zoho - similar to google docs - but with a more straightforward interface I suppose. Gary
ReplyDeleteHi Yuna! Your explanation is really detailed and clear. I actually like stormboard more than padlet as it provides different framework to suit different brainstorming purposes.
ReplyDeleteBTW I really like your chatty introduction. It makes the reading process more favourable!
Hi Yuna! Thanks for elaborating the function of stormboard to us. to be honest, I have forgotten how to use it already. When I read your blog, it was quite surprising to find out that we could upload files, images and videos in a note.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the templates are very useful. It makes our life easier as it has more options than just a blank page like google docs.
bests,
Cindy