Written by Sarah Wood, Education Technology Consultant at Kent ISD

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented many challenges for educators in trying to deliver content to in-person students as well as virtual students (and for some both at the same time!).  This school year has often been described as one of the most challenging years teachers have faced in their careers. 

Despite its challenges and obstacles, pandemic teaching has allowed teachers to try new teaching tools and methods, which often includes educational technology resources.  The use of these resources not only allow for physical distancing, but also bringing those from a distance together.  The days of trading papers, sharing manipulatives, or huddling close together for brainstorming sessions are no more, but that does not mean that students cannot actively collaborate with one another.

Educators need to think outside of the box as they transition from in-person learning strategies to digital ways of learning.  This does not mean that a whole strategy needs to be reworked, but rather the method of implementing the strategy needs to be viewed through a different lens.  Things are always easier said than done, but as a collaborative professional learning community, we can support one another to simplify the transition to digital collaboration.

Three Digital Collaboration Strategies

How does this look?  It may look similar to what you are already doing with students in person.  

• Want to use a whiteboard to collaborate with your students? Try using an online virtual whiteboard tool such as Jamboard instead of using sticky notes.  Jamboard is a simple whiteboard collaboration tool that has the potential to be powerful.  Use it to provide a picture to students for them to caption, make observations and inferences, or even practice spelling!
• Want to share student work for feedback? Try using Google Docs or Sheets to conduct a Gallery walk instead of physically walking around the classroom.  This gives students an audience for their work and an opportunity to receive feedback.
• Want to encourage your students in an engaging way? This ready-to-use teacher soundboard will definitely get a reaction from students! While this is not necessarily a collaboration tool, it is great way to encourage collaboration and communication among students through the use of audio – specifically, sound clips!  

Redefining Learning Strategies: SAMR Model

The SAMR model is a framework that is often used to help educators understand the transition from physical resources to digital resources and it is also applicable to the implementation of collaborative strategies.  Some digital tools may simply be a substitute for the physical, where others are redefining the strategy and learning outcomes.

Want to Go Even Further!

To learn more about specific in-person collaboration strategies and how they can be transformed into digital strategies, please take a look at Sarah Wood’s Collaboration+ presentation.  There are several strategies that are shared, how they can be transformed for digital collaborative experience, as well as an opportunity for you to contribute to a collaborative list of strategies for in-person collaboration as well as online collaboration.

#DigitalCollaboration #WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd

This blog post was written by Sarah Wood, Education Technology Consultant at Kent ISD and edited by Amanda Walma, Professional Development Coordinator and Sara Sefcik, PD Hub Intern for Kent ISD.