Anthony T. Atkins wrote an essay entitled “Collaborating Online: Digital Strategies for Group Work,” which served to outline the various ways electronics and the internet can be of assistance to group work, especially in the college classroom. The essay focuses predominantly on Wiki and Google Docs, the two main platforms at the time of publication in 2010. The essay itself is broken into three sections, which include assessing the project or task, using technology to organize the project, and using technology to present the project.
The essay is directed at college students, offering strategies which serve to work around inflexible schedules, create a more productive atmosphere, and alleviate participation problems. Offering free and easily accessible platforms as resources is one way Atkins effectively acknowledges his intended audience. Another is offering the explanation that the platforms he recommends allows groups to access all media involved in a group project without the tedium of emailing individual resources. Atkin’s final push for utilizing online resources for group work is the ability to police non-contributing group members, effectively addressing the biggest complaint involved with group assignments.
As a piece of work in the public sphere, Atkin’s essay is a good example of how to appeal to a particular audience for a specific purpose. Atkins believes in using technology as a resource for group work in schools. He makes an argument directed at college students who have to participate in group work as part of a class. He assumes various facets of a college students’ personality, like being persuaded by free resources, when he constructs his argument. He makes a claim of policy, arguing that his points are credible and that his audience should utilize his advice.
Beyond the mechanics involved in the essay, the subject of technology being used in a classroom setting introduced by Atkins brings up an interesting debate regarding the changing role of technology within schools. The use of technology within classrooms has been increasing exponentially. Google Classroom and other Google platforms allow for easier access to all school documents and resources, especially when using a school computer. Youtube and Ted Talks are being utilized by teachers as part of their lesson plans. Schools even have their parents sign up on various apps that allow the schools to send out mass text messages. Technology is firmly planting itself within schools.
On one hand, as pointed out by Atkin in his essay, it is incredibly convenient to utilize technology. It allows students to work together or teachers to see progress. It saves paper and gives teacher access to a much broader spectrum of resources. Websites such as GoNoodle are popping up constantly, their main purpose providing teachers with resources to use directly in the classroom, projected on a screen in front of the entire class. Another positive aspect mentioned by Atkins is the decreased pressure for those students who struggle to communicate, an online platform allowing them to participate where they may otherwise hold back.
Technology is not just a tool. It can give learners a voice that they may not have had before.
George Couros
On the other hand, technology is rapidly moving towards a place where face-to-face interactions are a thing of the past. Atkin’s entire essay is dedicated to the idea that group work can now be done without actually being in the same room as each other. Very little direct interaction is even needed once initial plans have been laid, as everyone can simply add their work and see what others have done without conversation. Entire classes are now being held online, sometimes with interactions among students and sometimes only interacting with the program.
Classrooms don’t need tech geeks who can teach; we need teaching geeks who can use tech.
David Geurin
Decreased social interaction is becoming a common and almost expected aspect of adolescents lives. A new stereotype has emerged that considers adolescents incapable of social interactions; awkward and not good with people is the new norm. Certainly, technology is incredibly convenient in a lot of ways, only some of which were pointed out in Atkin’s essay. However, the question has to be asked: Where does it stop? Can we find the line where technology remains helpful and not smothering, or are we destined to live behind a screen forever?
Mental Health Matters 