Loss+of+productivity

Concerns regarding student productivitiy in online environments

Parents and administration may have concerns about a loss of productivity when students work collaboratively online. Students working in a collaborative online environment may be more productive than working offline in groups. In my experience students show a greater level of engagement in online assignments than in traditionally assigned work. I would show parents and administration evidence of student work completed on one of the English class wikis, to illustrate the higher level of thinking and greater participation of the entire class. Teachers find that students working together online focus mainly on the task at hand, and are not socially distracted. Teachers have evidence of student participation and level of understanding, with work done in online environments. The rigor of the work and productivity expected do not change in an online environment. Parents may be given access to see the work that their child is completing, due to its online nature. A benefit of online collaboration is that students do not need to meet to complete work. Loss of productivity due to differing schedules, or needing rides to meet, no longer would exist. Students are accountable for work to be completed regardless of the time and their location. We need to prepare our students to work in a global economy. The Framework for 21st Century Learning indicates that students will need a variety of skills in order to find success in their future. These skills include communication and collaboration as well as information, media and technology skills. Students will need to be able to collaborate in online environments in order to succeed in global markets of today and the future. It is essential that our students be prepared with the tools that they will need for their education and careers.

21st Century Skills[]

[|21st_century_skills_education_and_competitiveness_guide.pdf]


 * Created by Abbe Waldron**