Working remotely in groups is so different. It is really a so nice experience to work as a student, and I could know how my students felt before. Although I applied this strategy in my classroom, I don't think I could understand the difficulties my students had before. I completely felt how they were feeling though this assignment-group project for creating a activity. I appreciate the whole process, which taught me so much.
Getting Together
We were assigned to different group at the beginning of this class with classmates' contact information. I think it is working well because we could know who we need to contact and how to contact them. So, I contacted my group member easily, and get the message faster. I thought it would be working easily to get all activities done soon. Unfortunately, the locations of our group members are so different, and it is so difficulty to adjust the timezone for our group. One of our group members has 8 hours differences from mine, and another two members have a 3 hours differences. Although we were trying very hard to match each other's time zone, we did not start the first hangout meeting till two days left before the due day. Even now, one group member still cannot get together with us. So, I completely understand how hard to make a group project in a distance education class for students.
Working Together
I love working remotely in groups. I was so excited and happy to see my friends from different locations. I am so happy that I could make friends by this way. Also, it is so nice to collect all ideas and work out for the assignment. The whole communication was great, we were talking something fun and get the work done. The best part I feel is making friends and build up network with colleagues. I love this collaboration.
Issues and Concerns
There are some issues as well even though I enjoyed working with my group members. The problems:
1) taking time to contact the group member to meet together, these are nothing about any technology skills or knowledge, this is about some issue we cannot control. How students could get the grade if they did not participate just because any issued they cannot control. How instructor to give the grade to these students.
2) the grades student should based on the evidences, students have done. For example, the evident for this assignment is the recording of voicethread and worksheet we were working on. However, some group members cannot make meeting, and then they cannot work on this group project because of so many reasons like we discussed before, technology, or internet connection, or time zone. How could instructor adjust the grade for so many uncontrolled factors. Students who have done a lot would deserve a good grade. However, is it "fair" for those students who cannot make this project? I am thinking is any alternative assessment could be used for the distance education.
At last, I really want to say I enjoyed the distance class, which I was looking for. I love technologies and I love to apply technologies in my class teaching, no matter face-to-face or distance. This is such a wonderful experience!
Yan,
ReplyDeleteFinally I get a chance to visit your blog. It's so beautiful!
Yes, I echo your concerns. I think the fairness and instructor's guidance are the key to integrity. If the instructor can provide clear guidelines and rubric for the group work assignment, as well as grade students individually, I believe students will feel comfortable working as a group.
Students who have done a lot would deserve a good grade. However, is it "fair" for those students who cannot make this project? I am thinking is any alternative assessment could be used for the distance education.
ReplyDeleteDear Gao Yan, I like the above sentence. You said it. I am pretty sure that our instructors will use alternative assessment for our distance education. You are so professional and I like to appreciate your articles and the ideas you shared with us. I am so glad to meet you in this group.
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ReplyDeleteGao Laoshi, Reading your blog entry made me feel very relieved. My group also experienced some of the same difficulties that your group did. We were definitely NOT alone in what we experienced while doing this assignment. I think that the pressures we felt created a certain amount of anxiety, but to know that all of us had the same problems gives us a sense of relief. Doing the exercise certainly gave us all a good sense of what it will feel like for our students to study at a distance, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteI think a good solution to the "coordination at a distance problem" is for instructors to tell the students up-front about any and all group activities that may require coordination over time zones. If we had known this starting on the first day of the course when we did our first Google Hangout, we could have prepared for a group meeting toward the end of the first week. As teachers in distance learning environments we will need to be aware of this fact and help our students to plan accordingly.
Jenny Hopkins (Lin Laoshi - 林老师)