Journal Entry 10 - Making History

From: Esther Shein, "Making History," T.H.E. Journal, 10/1/2008, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23394

"In 21st-century classrooms, using technology and analyzing and defending your position in front of a group and working cooperatively with others is where we're headed." (Dorman in Shein)

While the article is interesting for several reasons, I really want to focus on the reason using podcasts and doing collaborative projects worked so well for this teacher. It has largely to do with peer-facilitated accountability. In some ways subtle (but productive) peer pressure has more influence than do directives from the instructor. Teens are frankly more concerned by acceptance among their peers than they are by nodding approval from faculty or the promise of institutional conformity.

Ms. Fuesz, the business teacher, is the other example Shein describes in this article. And again, a system of peer approval carries more weight than even the lure (for some, anyway) of good grades.

What motivates students to go out of their way to help other struggling students? It's pride in a job well done where the glory goes to the whole team. And rather than think that it would be glory and credit diluted, it appears to be the opposite; it actually gets exponentialized enough that each memebr actually ends up with a higher dividend that they would have with solo projects. The whole is truly greater than the sum of the parts. Amazing!