# 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.

## References

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Defining Learning Community. (2008). Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Learning Communities in the Classroom Wiki:
Dickinson, D. (1991). Onward and Upward! With visionary leadership, schools are succeeding when they recognize that students learn and process information in different ways. The Learning Revolution (IC#27). Retrieved February 20, 2009, from
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Foundations in Theory. (2008). Retrieved February 24, 2009, from Learning Communities in the Classroom Wiki:
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Ramirez, M. R. (1999, February). Developing learning organizations and communities. NAASP Bulletin, 83(604), 1-2.
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Senge, P. M., Roberts, C., Ross, R., Roth, G., Smith, B., and Kleiner, A. (1999). The Dance of Change: The challenges of sustaining momentum in learning organizations. New York, Currency/Doubleday. Excerpt retrieved February 18, 2009, from
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Thirteen/WNET New York. (2000). Workshop 2. Setting the stage: Creating a learning community. Learning science through inquiry. Retrieved February 16, 2009 from
Watkins, C. (2005, March). Classrooms as learning communities: a review of research. London Review of Education, 3(1), 47-64. Retrieved February 17, 2009, doi:10.1080/14748460500036276