Integrating technology and social media into education can significantly enhance collaborative learning and discourse among students. By creating class pages on social media platforms, students can engage in discussions and resource sharing with peers from local and global communities.
Note that this approach
should be taken with proper
moderation from the teacher
and after students have been
properly prepared beforehand.
Connections for the 21st Century Learner
Tech Tools to Support Connections
The internet allows access
to unlimited information and
teaches students to analyse,
compare/contrast and criticize
what they read or see
Example: students can be asked
to read multiple or opposing articles
on the same topic and discuss bias,
perspective, historical context, and/or
the validity of the resource
Social media can enhance
collaborative discourse,
allow students to share
information and lets them
learn from their peers
both locally and internationally
Example: create a class
Facebook page regarding a specific
topic from the curriculum and
invite another class (either locally
or globally) to share resources, participate
in discussion and collaborate
Google Classroom allow for
collaborative assignments,
immediate feedback and
interactive lesson planning
Example: students can work
on a jigsaw assignment using
a shared Google Doc and get
real-time feedback from their
teacher
Global Connections
Give students the opportunity
to study cultural norms and customs
from different perspectives.
Example: studying about differences
and similarities between cultures
encourages interconnectedness and
promotes tolerance
Challenge popular or
common world views that require
students to consider multiple
perspectives thus allowing for
greater understanding and
acceptance.
Example: hold debates or
round-table discussions on
issues that may be controversial
(ie. same-sex marriage)
Provide opportunities to learn
about 'cause and effect' to
remind students that in a global
community, nothing happens in
isolation.
Example: field trips to organizations
that promote environmental
sustainability teach students about
nature's fragility and that preserving
it needs to be a global effort.
Societal Connections
Utilize individuals or
organizations within the
community that would be
willing to collaborate with
students to help them in making
connections with what they
are learning
Example: organize 'career weeks'
that allow students to meet and
discuss with members of the
community about what they do for
a living and the path they took to get
there. Asking questions will allow
students to better plan/prepare for
their own life goals
Provide students a chance
to engage with their peers in
a variety of group-based
assessments in which each
member has a defined role
Example: presentations that
require all group members to
present specific information
about a topic requires synthesis
of ideas, promotes problem-
solving, allows for compromise |
and encourages inter-group
dialogue
Give students the opportunity
to learn about how their community
functions and formulate ways
to improve it
Example: students can study
various social institutions and
critique their effectiveness (ie.
police force, government, school)
Personal Connections
Allow assignments that let
students discover more about
themselves: the way they think,
feel, behave and learn
Example: students can study
various agents of socialization and
analyse the impact that they have
had on their personal growth
and development
An increase of assessment
as learning opportunities allows
students to reflect on and
better engage with their learning
Example: reflective journals,
peer and self evaluations, and
reflective video diaries are just
a few ways in which students can
connect with their learning
and reflect on the process of
learning
Allowing students choice in
topics/assignments provides
greater connections with course
concepts and gives them ownership
in their learning
Example: an assessment with
multiple options and
differentiated tasks will allow for
greater student engagement and
encourage a more personal,
inquisitive approach to learning