Introduction
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has developed a set of standards to guide librarians and media specialists in their work. One of these standards, A.III Think and Collaborate, focuses on the importance of collaboration in learning. But adding these core competencies into lessons can be a challenge, so in this article, we will explore how to incorporate Think and Collaborate into lessons for elementary librarians and media specialists.
Understanding A.III Think and Collaborate Core Competencies
The A.III Think and Collaborate standard emphasizes the importance of working effectively with others to broaden perspectives and work toward common goals. It encourages learners to identify collaborative opportunities, develop new understandings through engagement in a learning group, and solve problems informed by group interaction
Think:
In the context of the “Think” competency, learners are expected to build new knowledge by inquiring, thinking critically, identifying problems, and developing strategies for solving problems1. This involves displaying curiosity and initiative by formulating questions about a personal interest or a curricular topic, recalling prior and background knowledge as context for new meaning, and engaging with new knowledge by following a process that includes using evidence to investigate questions, devising and implementing a plan to fill knowledge gaps, and generating products that illustrate learning.
Key Skills include: Formulating questions, recalling prior background knowledge, using evidence to investigate questions, devising and implementing a plan to fill knowledge gaps, generating products that illustrate learning, interacting with content presented by others, providing constructive feedback, acting on feedback to improve, sharing products with an authentic audience, continually seeking knowledge, engaging in sustained inquiry, enacting new understanding through real-world connections, and using reflection to guide informed decisions.
Collaborate:
The “Collaborate” competency emphasizes the importance of working effectively with others to broaden perspectives and work toward common goals. It encourages learners to identify collaborative opportunities, develop new understandings through engagement in a learning group, and solve problems informed by group interaction.
Key Skills Include: Identifying collaborative opportunities, using a variety of communication tools and resources, and working productively with others to solve problems.
Strategies for Incorporating A.III Think and Collaborate
1. Facilitate Collaborative Opportunities
Librarians and media specialists can facilitate collaborative opportunities by challenging learners to work with others to broaden and deepen understandings. This can be done by organizing learner groups for decision-making and problem-solving activities.
Other ideas include:
- Group Research Projects: Divide students into small groups and assign each group a different topic to research. This encourages students to work together, share resources, and learn from each other.
- Book Clubs: Organize book clubs where students read the same book and discuss it together. This promotes active listening, respectful discussion, and the sharing of different perspectives.
- Peer Review Sessions: After an individual activity, such as writing a book report, organize a peer review session. Students can share their work with a partner or small group and provide constructive feedback to each other.
- Collaborative Storytelling: Start a story and ask each student to contribute a sentence or paragraph. This not only fosters creativity but also encourages students to build on each other’s ideas.
- Puzzle Solving: Provide a large puzzle and encourage students to work together to solve it. This can be a fun and engaging way to promote teamwork and problem-solving skills.
- Role-Playing Activities: Organize role-playing activities related to the books or topics students are studying. This can help students understand different perspectives and work together to create a cohesive narrative.
2. Use a Variety of Communication Tools and Resources
In today’s digital age, there are numerous communication tools and resources available. Librarians and media specialists can model the use of these tools to establish connections with other learners and build on their own prior knowledge.
Some ideas include:
- Interactive Whiteboards: These can be used to display text, images, and videos, making lessons more engaging. They can also be used for interactive activities, such as matching games or quizzes.
- Online Collaboration Tools: Tools like Google Docs or Microsoft Teams allow students to work together on projects in real-time, fostering collaboration and communication.
- Educational Apps: There are many educational apps available that can enhance learning. For example, reading apps can help students practice reading skills, while other apps can help students learn about different topics.
- Email: Teaching students how to use email can help them communicate effectively. They can learn how to write formal emails, how to attach files, and how to respond to emails appropriately.
- Online Research Tools: Teaching students how to use online research tools, like online encyclopedias or databases, can help them learn how to find reliable information on the internet.
- Digital Storytelling Tools: Tools like Storybird or Book Creator allow students to create their own digital stories, combining text, images, and audio.
- Video Conferencing Tools: Tools like Zoom or Skype can be used to connect with other classrooms around the world, providing opportunities for cultural exchange and global learning.
3. Promote Problem-Solving with Others
Encourage learners to work productively with others to solve problems. This can be achieved by demonstrating how to solicit and respond to feedback from others and advocating for respect for diverse perspectives to guide the inquiry process.
Some ideas you can try include:
- Group Research Projects: Assign a research topic to small groups of students. Each group must work together to find information, analyze it, and present their findings. This activity promotes problem-solving as students must determine the best way to approach the research topic and present their findings.
- Mystery Book Activity: Give each group a mystery book. The group’s task is to solve the mystery before the end of the book by discussing clues and making predictions together.
- Puzzle Solving: Provide puzzles related to what they are learning. Working together to solve puzzles can help students develop problem-solving skills and learn to collaborate with others.
- Role-Playing Scenarios: Create scenarios related to books or topics students are studying. Students must work together to act out the scenario and solve any problems that arise.
- Debate Sessions: Organize debates on topics related to what students are learning. Debates can help students learn to consider different perspectives and work together to develop compelling arguments.
- Design Challenges: Pose a design challenge related to a topic of study (e.g., design a new book cover or create a model of a scene from a book). Students must work together to come up with a design and execute it.
4. Integrate Collaborative and Shared Learning
The school library can facilitate opportunities to integrate collaborative and shared learning. This can be done by partnering with other educators to scaffold learning and organize learner groups to broaden and deepen understanding.
Ideas to consider for your lessons include:
- Group Reading Sessions: Organize group reading sessions where students take turns reading a book aloud. This promotes shared learning as students can discuss the book and learn from each other’s insights.
- Collaborative Research Projects: Assign a research topic to small groups of students. Each group must work together to find information, analyze it, and present their findings. This activity promotes shared learning as students must share resources and learn from each other.
- Peer Teaching: Encourage students to teach each other about a topic they’ve learned. This not only reinforces the student’s understanding of the topic but also promotes shared learning as other students learn from their peers.
- Book Clubs: Organize book clubs where students read the same book and discuss it together. This promotes shared learning as students can share their interpretations and understandings of the book.
- Collaborative Storytelling: Start a story and ask each student to contribute a sentence or paragraph. This not only fosters creativity but also encourages students to build on each other’s ideas, promoting shared learning.
- Shared Digital Projects: Use digital tools to create shared projects. For example, students can work together to create a digital presentation or a blog post about a specific topic.
Conclusion
The A.III Think and Collaborate standard provides a valuable framework for promoting collaboration in learning. By incorporating this standard into their lessons, librarians and media specialists can help learners develop critical skills for the 21st century. Remember, collaboration is not just about working together; it’s about working together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. If you enjoyed reading this article, why not check out more by browsing the sidebar menu next to this blog. Or read our pick, D.IV Encouraging Growth and Curating!
Leave a Reply