We just finished up with the COM 402 course I teach yearly. I've explained the premise in previous posts, but suffice it to say it's not a "normal" class for me or the students involved. It's run primarily through a Wiki and it represents the place where I've done my most serious investigation about the possibilities of Wikis for teaching, learning, and understanding collaboration. Anyway...we had the final yesterday. Students were scheduled to make final presentations that summed up their work for the semester. As we started the presentations, the presenters seemed a bit stiff and uncertain about how they should proceed (odd considering that we spend so much time in our curriculum dealing with public presentation...and this was a senior level seminar course). After a few minutes, the other students in the class began asking questions of their peers. It wasn't a scrutinizing questioning or a "I'm going to catch you off guard because you're unprepared" sort of questioning...but rather a kind, helpful, and supportive questioning. The students in the audience probed to give the presenters an opportunity to elaborate and discuss their work. And in so doing, we began a meandering conversation that threaded through all of the presentations.
As a quick digression, I should point out that this isn't surprising for this class, necessarily. We've had very rich discussions about a variety of subjects throughout the semester...and I was never certain where discussions would lead. One thread raised questions that led to another that led to another. Oddly, I find myself realizing that our patterns of discussion in the class are reminiscent of the Wiki or threaded discussion experience we have outside the classroom. There is an ebb and flow to the pursuit of the discussion. It isn't as focussed as many might like, but the investigation is tremendously rewarding as students begin to spontaneously make connections...pick up threads...drop others. It's a very natural conversation...one that I find tremendously intriguing.
In any case, what was remarkable about the class session was that my expectation for formal presentations was completely turned around and co-opted by the class. I don't mean this in a negative way by any means. Rather, the students began to explore their peers' experiences in a wonderful give and take exchange that I couldn't have possibly planned or imagined. Suddenly, the students were engaging with one another directly, supportively. Before anyone realized it, I think, we had only 5 minutes left in our 2 hour exam slot. I interjected and said that I was thoroughly enjoying the conversation and that although our official time was over, I'd be willing to continue the conversation. We took a short break and I was amazed to find that 10 of the 15 students present returned...ready to continue our discussion. So we did. For 2 more hours! I don't know that I've ever had the experience where a class was so engaged...so ready to explore and exchange ideas. It was amazing.
However, the story doesn't end there. As we left the classroom several of the students commented about how they were hungry...which I chimed in on. Before I knew it, I had been invited to grab a "quick bite to eat" with three of the students. Ordinarily I probably would have declined, but considering the afternoon's discussion, I thought, "What harm could it do?" I joined them at a local restaurant for "wraps" and we began talking again. The conversation continued and before I realized it...another two hours had passed. At which point, students who had to leave for another exam rejoined us (the miracle of cell phones, I suppose) and the conversation continued. All in all I spent close to 8 hours having an extended discussion with students who, a few weeks before, admitted that they really didn't "get" my class. It hit home most when one of the students said something like this...
I've known these people in this class for the last couple of years. We've been friends, but we never really hung out together. I have more fun going out with this group than I do with my friends back home. I think it's because of this class that we became this close.
Suddenly, I realized that this was something special. I'd like to think that this course was responsible for creating an environment that made this possible. "It was all in my plan," I think to myself. I talk a lot about the potential for collaborative and community-minded learning. Until this point, I never quite realized what it would look like if it worked really well. Seeing it happen...experiencing it along with my students...was truly remarkable. I couldn't help but think, "Wow. I've done something good here." It would be silly of me to think that this was all my doing. After all, it just might be a natural chemistry that would have happened between the students regardless of who taught the class. But for today, I'm reveling in the possibility that this happened because of me and that I made a real difference. That's an amazing feeling I'm going to savor for as long as I can.
Here's the kicker, for me. The core group of students from the class created their own blog about their experience in the class. It's interesting to see the student perspective on this. I'm absolutely in awe and humbled by what they wrote. If you'd like to see their side of the story go to
