Collaborating THROUGH Technology: Return of the Active Classroom

Anyone into Flipped Classroom knows that EdPuzzle has revolutionized the student-centered classroom. I began to rely on it heavily in my film studies elective in Taiwan and found it to be an outstanding tool to differentiate, access multiple learning styles, and ensure student mastery of concepts.

There was only one problem: I began to notice that the more tech I introduce into class, the more sterile my classes began to feel. The laptops began to feel like that game "battleship" I grew up with: no face-to-face contact.

My colleague, Jon Hayhoe, suggested the method described in the above video and I tried it in the last second. It worked immediately. Basically, it's a twist on Kagan's "Sage and Scribe": one computer for every three students. The are to switch typists (the Scribe) for each question and the other students discuss the answer as intellectuals (Sages).

Please let me know if you try the method, if you've got a twist on it, or if you have any other ideas to share!

-- Domenica

#technologyintegration #collaborativelearning #flippedclassroom #ESL #filmstudies