Constructive and Cooperative: Meaningful Learning with Technology

Constructive (Articulative/Reflective): Technology can promote the constructivist characteristic by using programs such as the one I recently found on my blog subscribtion called Glogster. Here students are given the tools to use to articulate the information they researched with a group of students. What I like about this tool is students will need to figure out how to articulate their information through using a video, text features, sounds, hyperlinks, or graphics that will show a reflection of their learning. I have had my students complete social studies projects where they reflected their information onto a poster board, however, I noticed that they would find information on youtube videos but how do they transfer that on a poster board? They can't. That is one of the reasons I really like the idea of these glogsters because actually videos can be posted on their globster. But, an even better idea would be to have the students create their own video and post that video on their glogster.

Cooperative (Collaborative/Conversational): Cooperative learning is a tool for any classroom when a students wants to engage in meaning learning. Students can use the characteristic of cooperative learning with technology such as using Skype. Skype is a video conferencing tool where students can engage in conversations with students from other schools in the district, state, and country. Projects done by two students from different parts of the world can come together through video conferencing and share their information. When we think of cooperative learning we usually think of within the classroom. However, this tool goes beyond the classroom and into the outside world. It is almost a virtual field trip. Skype gives students an opportunity to articulate with students from around the world in a conversational way.