Students as Contributors

Tonight I read, Student as Contributor: The Digital Learning Farm by Alan November. In this article Mr. November discusses how our children have lost their sense of collaboration and collectivism in the classroom. Many Americans have their roles as individuals down to a science. If you ask them to do something, they can do it or figure out how to do it themselves without hesitation or reservation. In many other cultures the role of the individual is only as valuable as they can be to a group. When Mr. November says "Today, we can restore the dignity and
integrity of the child as a contributor," he suggests that it is at least partially our responsibility as teachers to revive the skills of societal contribution to our students. He outlines several examples in the text.

The author suggests that the use of blogging " increases engagement and provides struggling students with more opportunities for reviewing troubling concepts."

He also presents the strategy of assigning each student to be the “scribe of the day. " He says, "Students who never took notes in the past are now doing so knowing that peers are dependant on what is published on the class blog" I can see how this online experience can create both a seance of responsibility to the students' peer group and just enough anonymity to allow for growth and free expression. When we post to blogs and online communities there can be a tendency to feel that you are hiding behind the computer even though you are publishing your words for all the world to see.

I use Skype in my home often as a means to communicate with family overseas. We talk about how the world has gotten smaller and smaller with the advent of new technology. Skype is one way we can conference students all over the world. Students can interact with each other all over the globe in a sort of global classroom. Just as diversity in the classroom leads to exposure to multiple vantage points and can aid students in developping wide world views, the use of Skype to access students in other countries can bring that diversity in to classes where it might otherwise be lacking. The author uses the example of American students discussing the events that led up to the American Revolution with students in the UK.


While social responsibility may be taught in some form in many of our classrooms, the concept of philanthropy is very foreign to many students today. Whether this is because we tend to be tight fisted and individualistic or if we just don't think of the plight of others as much as we should, students should be made aware of the struggles of others around the world. Kiva.com is a very helpful resource for providing this chance to students. Students or other individuals can here make a $10 investment to entrepreneurs in developing countries around the world, which is gradually paid back. "Students are kept up to date on the successes and struggles of those whom they have invested contributions." The interpersonal insight these students may gain by being deeply involved with others who are less fortunate than themselves, but still working hard to survive.

Overall this article was very helpful for giving teachers ideas for bringing a more collaborative feel back into the classroom.