Constructivism & Technology/Learning Communities

4: Building Learning Communities

Chapter Quiz
Use this link to Defining Learning Community to answer questions #1 and #2

1. True or False – Learning communities are groups of students in the classroom that work collaboratively on a specific task to build the collective knowledge of the group 	which then supports the growth of the individual's knowledge.

2. Which of these is not a quality essential to all learning communities?

a. Members all have the same kinds and levels of knowledge, understandings and skills.

b. Members all believe in the objective of furthering the knowledge and skill of the group.

c. Members use metacognitive strategies to further and transfer learning.

d. There are well-defined means for sharing what is learned.

Use this link to Foundations in Theory to answer questions #3 and #4

3. When incorporating learning communities in a classroom, a teacher must first

a. give students a pre-test to assess background knowledge on the unit of study.

b. introduce key vocabulary words for the unit of study.

c. assign students to a group with members that have the same kinds and levels of knowledge, understandings and skills.

d. teach the social and communication skills that will create a respectful, tolerant and supportive learning environment.

4. In learning communities students construct knowledge by a.  helping one another grow through individual learning.

b. participating in authentic activities with others that involve sharing multiple perspectives and negotiating meaning.

c. using technology in their projects.

d. listening to the teacher’s lectures, reading textbooks and completing written assignments.

Use this link to Learning Communities in Action to answer question #5.

5. Choose two strategies/methods mentioned in this section and explain how you could use them to incorporate learning communities in a specific classroom setting (grade level and subject area).

Refer to any of the above links to answer question #6.

6. Explain how the concept of learning communities supports constructivism.