Collaborative and cooperative learning is the learning of the future. While we a lack of it in K-12, it must be brought to the forefront of higher education. Challenging discussion boards for example. I have a political science/history discussion board that revolves around the Housing crisis of 2008 and askes the student to evaluate two groups, Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party, to show their similarities and differences. How they reflect into American political concepts like Progressivism, Equality, Pursuit of Happiness or the Preamble.
I love the term "digital natives." I have noticed this for my past 14 years of teaching. Incorporating digital learning activities enhances this group of learners. I have used online discussions, student created glossaries and test questions, and peer/self-reflection exercises. I would like to try the "jigsaw" activity in the future.
I enjoyed the phrase, "student-centered and instructor driven".
The content also admitted that students want to hear from the instructors on their opinion or insights that can not be gleamed from their own discoveries.
Posing a problem that would be relevant to their current life can help engage them in problem solving exercises.
Encouraging critical thinking is the most important aspect of active learning. Performing activities that promote and encourage critical thinking is important in active learning environments.
Today's businesses are seeking individuals with strong critical thinking skills. These skills include the ability to evaluate information, analyze complex situations, problem-solve, and recognize that being right is not always imperative. Making mistakes is inevitable, but they provide valuable learning opportunities. Businesses are in need of individuals who can effectively solve problems while utilizing critical thinking skills. These are some of the important points I plan on imparting to my future students in upcoming courses.
Critical thinking is the key component when seeking employment. Utilizing group discussions and collaborative involvement will help individuals bring that out.
As instructors, we need to teach our students to become critical thinkers. We can promote critical thinking skills by asking open-ended questions, having students reflect on the topic, justify their position, find relationships between concepts, create test questions, participate in collaborate and cooperative learning and problem-based learning.
Good critical thinking skills are needed to take part in problem solving activities.
There is real value to group projects both in the process and the outcome. PBL is an excellent method for collaboration.
Critical thinking skills are very important for students to have when they get into college settings and later in the real world settings when they will have a job. I think the examples of giving students collaborative learning assignments but using real world examples for them to research using technology and present in class is a way to make them think critically and also is a good way for them to share with each other.
I learned to try to implent collaborative learning or group based activities every so often can be beneficial.
Problem based learning is one of the best ways to get students to drive their own learning and experience. They can work independently and in groups. Ideas where we take real life situations and delve deeper into how a solution can be formed. One can draw from their own experiences and use critical thinking to create solutions. Instructors can lead students into various ways to help students like; managing projects and holding leadership roles like you would do in a career. Self-directed learning to solve problems, application and analysis of course content can further one's experience in the class.
PBL is student centered. Instructors facilitate an activity and students are more apt to solve and complete these assignments.
Critical thinking is a skill that is becoming less and less utilized both in and out of the classroom. Helping students get used to critical thinking so it can become more common for them is a great idea.
"Online instructors should think about their role as a facilitator in active learning, and assist student in their progress towards being a critical thinker by giving guidelines, encouraging communication amongst students, and also by bringing different perspectives to class." This quote from the text gives an insight, after being an on-line student, and not teaching on-line it makes since why student engagement is so important.
I think giving students problem-based questions is good practice for the Carrer they want- Animal Medicine. Veterinary Assistant, and beyond.
Using problem based learning as a motivator was a new concept for me. I enjoyed learning about PBL
Critical thinking is a needed part of the work world, but there is a need for creative thinking.
critical thinking is a soft skill that most employers provide feedback that students need assistance with. I think that it Is these situations that challenge students the most.
There were many tools provided to support a critical thinking learning environment. Group activities, research and problem solving activities are some ways in which an instructor can incorporate critical thinking in the course.
Working in a field where critical thinking can be a decision between life or death and now teaching the importance of it can definitely be trying at times. Creating a space with problem based learning(PBL) where the students have to work together to solve problems and understand especially in health care there is never one right answer to a situation. Combining learning tools to engage the students like letting them be the expert through role playing and giving them activities where they have to assess their peers and themselves I find is very helpful.
