The chapter in the book is near and dear to my heart. My thesis for my master's degree was titled "Why are our classrooms so quiet?". At the time, 1987, communication within the classroom consisted of conversations and the use of cooperative learning groups to foster communication. Classrooms where students were forced to remain silent and have little or no interaction frustrated me as a student and an instructor. In this environment, the students with high verbal skills were typically the only ones to benefit. Fast forward 25 years later and conversations are just one option for communication.
As educators, we value and understand the role communication plays in the acquisition of knowledge. The old saying "If you can explain something to someone, then you really understand it." comes to mind. My classrooms have always been filled with "learning noise" because I value the role communication plays in learning. Technology allows us and our students to communicate in so many different ways. A few forms of communication available today that come to mind are:
- face to face conversations
- conversations (written and verbal) via skype
- blogs
- texts
- tweets
- email
- google docs
- classroom clickers or voting devices to share opinions
- social media sites such as facebook
- videos
All of these forms of communication can and should be used within our classrooms. I love that the variety of types of communication allow every student to find a communication tool that is comfortable for them. No longer is a student limited because of poor verbal skills. They can choose a text form of communication to relay their ideas. The collaboration and thus learning that is supported by the variety of types of communication will serve to deepen our students' knowledge.
What a great post! I really like how you see the various types of technology as tools for the quiet/shy/poor communicator student to communicate. I agree! This blog idea is such an idea. You post your thoughts in the quiet of your home, or the business of a city street on your laptop. I'm sitting in the dark at my kitchen table in the early morning communicating back. My comments have been that with online learning, that there is too often no comments from the class during teacher led instruction, and when there is, it is only made by a few people. I think that in order for online learning to be truly impactful, all students must communicate. Like you said, when you can explain it, you understand it.
ReplyDeleteAgree! I wonder what you encourage in your elementary school setting by way of communication. Several things you listed work well for HS and even MS students. Do you have elementary students who communicate using online tools? Not that they aren't capable, just not sure teachers think about that on your level.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know from my own children that those teachers who are just holding on to the "just sit and pay attention" plan are not my kids favorite. It's boring and they really tune out. Having the chance to communicate - discuss - explain to each other really enhances what they know!
I loved reading your post! You said it right, a loud classroom doesn't necessarily mean an unproductive classroom. I don't have my own classroom yet, but I've always thought I'd want a quiet classroom so that I didn't have to deal with classroom management issues and come home with a pounding headache everyday. But when I really think about it, if a teacher can achieve this "learning noise", what more could you want for your classroom? Students get to collaborate and learn at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the advances with technology has allowed us to communicate through the web easily and should be used more in our classrooms!
Carla, the classrooms that you had 25 years ago seems very familiar to me since I am from the culture where students are supposed to listen carefully to what teachers say....But, as you mentioned, we all know that student interactions can promote student learning. Yes, I agree with you in that an opportunity to present their ideas to others is a great way to learn!
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