Monica, Renae, and Birgit - Lesson on Online Collaboration

Online Collaboration

By Monica, Renae, Birgit

This experiential lesson is aimed at university education students, in groups of four. The objective of the lesson is to teach students how to be online collaborators by experiencing the process themselves in order to complete the project.

The group project is to create an online entity about online collaboration. The online entity will document the experienced process of collaboration and subsequent lessons learned, such as:

• What is collaborative learning?
• Why might collaborative learning be important or useful?
• How does one collaborate?

Task 1:

As a learning group, decide how your group will communicate in order to complete the tasks below.

Once your group has decided which communication device you will use, then decide which online entity your group will develop (www.blogger.com , www.wikidot.com , www.webs.com , www.facebook.com/page).

Once the group has decided which entity it will create, decide how it will be created, and create it.

As a group, form a consensus about initial, introductory content to post, and post it.

1. Write a brief description of your group’s process of decision-making.
2. Email your description and the link to your online entity to the instructor.

Task 2:

Individually, find two articles relating to the importance of collaborative learning. The articles should be focused on research and/or development of online collaboration as a learning tool. Complete the following on the site your group chose above:

1. Post the links to both of the articles.
2. Write a brief summary of each article.
3. Write a short description about why you selected each article.
4. Respond to all of the team members posts.

Task 3:

Write a self-reflection about the project. Include your response to the following questions.

1. Provide a clear definition of collaborative learning.
2. What was your initial response to working as a group online?
3. Did you feel all peers participated in the group work effectively?
4. Which online tools did you find most effective, or ineffective, in collaborating online?
5. How might you use online collaboration in future lesson planning?

Assessment & Evaluation

The instructor will evaluate each group and individual using the following rubrics. The group work will be assessed based on: the group report about decision-making from task 3, the instructor’s evaluation of the online entity, as well as the peer evaluation reported from team member’s self-reflections. Each individual’s work will be assessed in regards to participation in the online forum created as well as the individual’s self-reflection.

Group Work - Collaborative Learning Online Resource

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Report of Decision-Making Process	The process is described clearly, included all group members, and work was divided fairly.	The process is described clearly, included most group members, and work was divided fairly.	The process description is unclear. It reported most group members participation, but the work was not distributed fairly.	It is unclear how the group made decisions. It was reported that only one or two group members participated in decision making.
Links posted by team members	All links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites.	Almost all links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites.	Most links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites.	Less than 3/4 of the links point to high quality, up-to-date, credible sites.
Content – online entity resource	The site has a well-stated clear purpose and theme that is carried out throughout the site.	The site has a clearly stated purpose and theme, but may have one or two elements that do not seem to be related to it.	The purpose and theme of the site is somewhat muddy or vague.	The site lacks a purpose and theme.

Individual Work – Collaborative Learning Online Resource

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Response to team members’ posts	Responds to all team member’s posts critically and in a respectful manner.	Responds to some team member’s posts critically and in a respectful manner.	Responds to some team member’s posts in a disrespectful manner.	Does not respond to team member’s posts.
Self - Reflection	Responds to each question in a thoughtful manner. Develops plans for future lessons.	Responds to most questions. Develops plans for future lessons.	Responds to most questions.	Responds to only some questions.
Analysis of Group Effectiveness	Analyzes the effectiveness of the group, and makes suggestions to make it more effective.	Analyzes the effectiveness of the group, and works to make the group more effective.	Analyzes the effectiveness of the group.	Analysis of group effectiveness is missing.