There has been a definite push for the Connectivism strategy to be present in classrooms at the middle school level in our classes. This theory is not new, but there are many exciting applications of it with the new technology available in our classrooms every day. I do like the More Knowledgeable Other term, whether it is applied to a computer available with a great web site for data, or an individual who knows about the topic.
One of the best activities I have used in the past is the Jigsaw, which is just what it sounds like. You assign groups (I always use a variety of skill levels in my groupings) and assign a topic or vocabulary to each of the different groups. They are then charged with the responsibility to learn about the topic and choose a way to present and teach to the rest of the class. Each group has a piece of the puzzle to bring back and teach. Then the groups present and a class can learn together. But this definitely needs to be modeled for the students, making sure that they are aware of the expectations for each of their own jobs, their group’s responsibility, and product expectations. I do find that once a class has experienced this strategy, they will ask to do it again in another topic or content later in the year.
This is another area where the middle school teacher has advantages as we are teams in my county. We meet within our curriculum areas and share ideas. I have never liked the concept of reinventing the wheel every year, so when a colleague has a great idea for a collaborative activity we all share the good (and warn each other of the problems) activities that we are doing in our classrooms.
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JoAnne,
ReplyDeleteHave you had any problems with students that are not at the same level as their classmates? Do they fall behind, or does the group help keep everything together? Sounds like a great way to learn a new concept, I do believe I would be one of the students asking to do it again.
JoAnne,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your ideas.
My students enjoy participating in Jigsaw activities in my class as well. I implement this strategy with my students when my curriculum dictates that they should be answering 3-4 extended responses for one short story. I ask students to answer one question completely, citing examples from the text to support their answers. Then they share out in their groups. This way each student is exposed to all questions and various responses to that question.
Thank you again.
Heather Streb
Erika,
ReplyDeleteHopefully, leveling the groups gives all a chance to participate. You know how sometimes you have one student in a group who does all the work and the others benefit with no work.
But if I control the group dynamics, I can, hopefully stop that from happening and have good combinations. I think this is the year I have more who do not get along than any other year, so it has been a challenge. Many who can't sit next to each other, much less be in a group and responsible for work. But we are working on it together.
JoAnne,
ReplyDeleteOur building experienced that last year. We had one of the meanest groups go through the middle school and for three years it was awful. One on one these kids were okay, but once you put them together, they were nasty to each other. As far as group work, that was a joke. If a certain kid was put with another that they could not stand, you would definitely get a phone call from a parent. And as hard as I tried to explain that their child was going to have to get over it, because as they got older they were going to have to work with people that they did not get along with, the parents just could not see it that way. Spoiled I say!!
JoAnne,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right in including modeling for our students. Sometimes we assume that our students understand what we expect from them. If we model what we expect from them, then there is a lesser chance of miscommunication.