Collaborative Competition
Presentation by: Graham Hiebert
Session F | 11:50 – 12:10 | Room 208
Abstract:
As part of my course on inquiry, I elected to focus on the idea of how to positively implement competition in the classroom, and through my exploration of this topic I became increasingly aware of the connection between competition and collaboration. In a system that combines collaboration and competition, the focus lies not on the result, but on the process. It replaces the traditional “us vs. them” system of competition and creates an environment that is focused on personal progress and using opponents as tools for learning, not adversaries. Without competition, the gamification and engagement associated doesn’t exist but without collaboration, we may fall into models of hyper-competitive, aggressive competition.
To investigate this practice, we will engage in 2 activities. The first being a quick one-word response to the following concepts: competition and collaboration. We will debrief and unpack the overall themes associated with each words, touching on the roots behind some of the undertones that exist within each term. The second activity will involve using a small group activity to attempt to answer the following question:
In small groups, do we complete a specified task faster if we are competing against the other group, or with the other group but against an external system (ex. a timer)?
We will end the presentation with a discussion of activities that would fit this model of collaborative completion, as well as ways in which we can scaffold and frame these activates to ensure they stick within the collaborative competition model.
