Re: Joint environment -- EDPR 7/8112 Adolescence Sec. 001 0500-0800 R

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Date Posted: 18:10:01 02/07/07 Wed
Author: Elizabeth Luster
Subject: Re: Joint environment
In reply to: Ethel S. McKinney 's message, "Joint environment" on 17:37:58 02/04/07 Sun

I agree with both of you! I teach math and science at BHJCC and my students range from 16-24 years old (from Juv Court, fostercare, and mental institutions) and it is VERY difficult to "maintain" a class in a facillitated peer environment--but the RESULTS are so very worth it. I love group work and I believe more courses here should be offered that help us, as teachers, develop this approach. Are there any websites that anyone could suggest that may have some of the prep work-with standards-already done? Because it IS a lot to try and implement this once or twice a week?!

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[> Re: Joint environment -- Beth Hansen, 19:55:52 02/07/07 Wed

It is important when planning peer collaborative work to put a lot of thought into the grouping of students. You mentioned creating groups with at least one knowledgable member each. It seems it would be most beneficial to put into effect Vygotsky's theory of the zone of proximal development when grouping students. Don't just divide up the smartest students and split them into different groups. It may be better to group the students with others near their ability level, where those slightly above the others in the group can act as the upper limit of the zone. Then, students would be helping those just slightly below their level. This may be more beneficial for both those students considered on the upper and lower limit of the zone.

I agree with Vygotsky's collaborative learning
>environment, but being a teacher, I must make sure the
>team has at least one knowledgable member.Modeling the
>behavior of their peers is what adolescents do and
>teacher administators feel this should be actively
>modeled in the classroom. In a perfect world it would
>work without a hitch, but in practicum, I know that if
>I have not set ground rule several days before,
>prepped the classroom, gathered the materials, and
>shown the students a sample of what is expected, they
>will not be able to work together without causing
>chaos. Middle school and high school classrooms are
>allowed to have up to and no more than 35 students.
>Peer collaborative activities, while beneficial
>according to Vygotsky, are a nightmare for the
>teacher. Knowing this will help most of my students
>learn better, I still only have group activities once
>a month because of the extensive planning. Personally
>I think its fabulous to utilize in a smaller group
>environment.

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