Reflection #13

(1) Describe the Resource / Experience:
Over the past few weeks, my classmates and I have been working in a social context or group setting via the Internet to research and write our assigned WikiText chapters. I always knew that group work was challenging to complete in and of itself, but during these past few weeks, I have discovered that group work is even more difficult to complete online. For example, during our last WikiText chapter submissions/postings, some groups experienced difficulties that delayed or omitted the posting of their chapters. However, even though it’s more challenging, I still remain a fan of online group work because it does possess several unsurpassable benefits. For example, with the online group work process, people are not required to leave the comfort of their own homes to complete the actual group work.
(2) Lessons Learned / Applications for the Classroom / Recommendations for Yourself or Others:
Overall, through this experience I have learned that we as educators will face many challenges, such as the ones listed above, when attempting to implement new and innovative constructivist instructional methods within our classroom. I’ve learned that we just have to monitor and adjust instruction accordingly and persevere or “push through” these challenges. As everyone knows, “practice makes perfect”, so I think the more we experiment with and practice using constructivist strategies within the classroom, the more effective and efficient we’ll become at using them, and eventually we’ll be more equip to overcome any challenges this approach may present.
(3) Links to Readings, Resources, or Discussions:
These ideas directly link to the readings and discussions we have been participating in about the controversies associated with constructivism (from chapter 1 of our WikiText). I think some experts opposed to constructivism may argue that these challenges make constructivism impractical, and that it’s not the most effective instructional approach to use within the classroom.