Changing the conversation in collaborative learning environments

experience with Blogs Workshops in the Rede de Desenvolvimento de Práticas de Ensino Superior-GIZ/UFMG

Abstract

This paper is to answer some basic issues related to the need to view the teaching process in higher education with value and the assimilation of ICTs by teachers who are interested in innovating their pedagogical practice. It will present how a university professor, who takes the role of designer of his/her own classes can use blogs to create an innovative virtual environment to engage students in their learning process in more autonomous ways. This environment will give students the opportunity to team up, with the support of the teacher, to learn by themselves and assume more responsibility for their learning in a process that is open, connected, contextualized and diversified. It will be presented a framework that can help in the changes in the types of interactions and conversations that happen in classrooms. This will enable new forms of participation through evolutionary stages and growing at different levels, where new roles are hold by students and teachers, thus providing a virtual collaborative environment based on blogs.