How does the idea of everyone sharing knowledge in a collaborative environment affect the model of teaching and learning?
The traditional school view of students at desk, pencil and test days are changing with today’s world and innovations. A collaborative environment is effecting the model of teaching and learning. A collaborative environment allows students the chance to openly share their thoughts and ideas with each other. This approach allows different point of views and a diversity of backgrounds to respond and collaborate with one another so that they are building their framework of knowledge with different perspectives. They are no longer just sitting and listening to a lesson and then responding to a written prompt. There are choices for students giving them more of a voice in the classroom. A collaborative environment for teachers allows lessons and concepts to easily be shared across classroom and grade levels. The teachers role in the classroom has changes as well. They are no longer just the “teacher”, the role has transformed into that of a facilitator or coach. The teacher is not the main source of knowledge but gives the students the tools and resources to solve their problem or guide their learning. A collaborative learning environment is a teaching and learning model of allowing students to become the transmitters of their own knowledge through talk and action. Teachers to assume the role of facilitator, creating an environment where they can take a step back and guide student learning.
Learning in the Library 
I like your point about collaboration being something that can happen across grade levels! I never really thought about that. As the librarian you could have themes that span multiple grades in the school. That is a very exciting concept and makes me think about how I could do some sort of collaborative thing within our department. Even some of the tools we are learning can be shared by teachers and thus to students. Collaboration in education really makes things interesting for everyone involved.
LikeLike
Lauren, collaborating with others to work towards a common goal can make things interesting. Often we confine our lessons to the people within our classroom. You remind us that this type of learning can span outside our classroom walls. How exciting!
LikeLike
Collaboration across grade levels is brilliant. We could even use this in my district across schools. we have three elementary schools. this could be a way to introduce 5th graders before entering the huge middle school together. Thanks for the great idea!
LikeLike
Your sentence on diverse backgrounds struck me. I think that’s one thing the the collaborative environments have done a good job with representing. It offers more opinions from difference people as well as the opportunity for influence from other areas. I moved from a diverse city school to a more homogenous rural school a couple years ago and we are missing out on the ethnic diversity, but collaborating and opening up the classroom still gives me the opportunity to provide those other thoughts/opinions/backgrounds. I think one thing that has stuck with me over the years is an old administrator in secondary ed said “It is not your job to protect and insulate the students, they need to be exposed to other ideals, people, and opinions to be successful in our society.”
LikeLike
Lauren,
Collaborative environments promote participation for all students within a classroom. As you stated, it allows the open sharing of ideas, which can encourage students to feel comfortable enough participate. If students feel as if their voices are heard and appreciated, they will be excited to come back to school each day.
LikeLike