Setting the Stage for Collaboration

In this weeks resources they discuss how collaboration can lead to improved learning outcome and a deeper understanding of the content (Horton, 2006). It can not be assumed that students will be enthusiastic about working in a group or even understand how to effectively work with others.. It is essential that the instructor sets the stage for effective collaboration.

 

The success or failure of a collaborative assignment can depend upon the decisions an instructor makes before giving the assignment to the students. In Assessing Learners Online, Oosterhof, Conrad and Ely (2008) discussion many strategies that can be used to effectively introduce and promote collaboration.

By Wednesday Post your response to the situation.

 

Situation:

You are teaching an online course. Starting in week 2 students will work in a collaborative group to develop their final project. Using this weeks resources and additional research discuss how you would prepare the students to be successful in this collaborative activity. Be sure to include the following:

• How will you introduce the activity to the students?
• How will groups be created? will you create them ahead of time or allow studnets to form groups?
• How will group interaction guidelines be established and exlained to students?
• How will group roles be determined? Will these remain the same throughout the project?
• How will group participation be encouraged and assessed?

 

By Sunday

Respond to at least 2 of your classmates by

• Build on something your colleague said.
• Ask a probing or clarifying question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague's posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Expand on your colleague's posting.
• Ask for evidence that supports the posting.

 

Discussion scoring rubric