Students Learning Through Collaboration and Communication

The concept is simple. We are living in a digital age in which technology is an intricate part of our everyday lives. Students should learn and be expected to apply higher level problem solving skills in order to compete and contribute in a ever growing global society. The National Educational Technology Standards for Students include 5 main areas of focus:

• Demonstrate creativity and innovation
• Communicate and collaborate
• Conduct research and use information
• Think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
• Use technology effectively and productively

I chose to explore standard #2:

2.	Communication and Collaboration
	Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
	a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media. b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats. c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures. d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.

This video is a great example of how easy it is to incorporate collaborative technology projects into the classroom. Students are able to interact together as a team to publish a finished product that not only allows them to learn and explore new technology, but gives them a different outlet for learning new material.



What are some ways you've encouraged collaboration and communication through technology in your classroom?