Lesson 1 –Features and Uses of ICT Tools for Collaboration and Sharing Resources
According to Valamis, collaborative learning is the educational approach of using groups to
enhance learning through working together. Groups of two or more learners work together to
solve problems, complete tasks, learn new concepts, mutually searching for understanding,
meanings, or creating a product (Smith & MacGregor, n.d.)
The benefits of collaborative learning include:
Development of higher-level thinking, oral communication, self-management, and
leadership skills.
•Promotion of student-faculty interaction.
•Increase in student retention, self-esteem, and responsibility.
•Exposure to and an increase in understanding of diverse perspectives.
•Preparation for real life social and employment situations.
Furthermore, when using collaborative learning, teachers must take into the following
considerations:
•Introduce group or peer work early in the semester to set clear student expectations.
•Establish ground rules for participation and contributions.
•Plan for each stage of group work.
•Carefully explain to your students how groups or peer discussion will operate and how students
will be graded.
•Help students develop the skills they need to succeed, such as using team- building exercises or
introducing self-reflection techniques.
•Consider using written contracts.
•Incorporate self -assessment and peer assessment for group members to evaluate their own and
others' contributions.
Clifford (2012) introduced some ways to include best practices for collaborative learning in the
classroom:
1. Establish group goals.
Effective collaborative learning involves establishment of group goals, as well as individual
accountability. This keeps the group on task and establishes an unambiguous purpose. Before
beginning an assignment, it is best to define goals and objectives to save time.
2. Keep groups mid-sized.
Small groups of 3 or less lack enough diversity and may not allow divergent thinking to occur.
Groups that are too large create “freeloading” where not all members participate. A moderate size
group of 4- 5 is ideal.
3. Establish flexible group norms.
Research suggests that collaborative learning is influenced by the quality of interactions.
Interactivity and negotiation are important in group learning.
4. Build trust and promote open communication.
Successful interpersonal communication must exist in teams. Building trust is essential. Deal
with emotional issues that arise immediately and any interpersonal problems before moving
on. Open communication is key.
5. For larger tasks, create group roles.
Decomposing a difficult task into parts to saves time. You can then assign different roles. The
students might have turns to choose their own role and alternate roles by sections of the
assignment or classes.
6. Create a pre-test and post-test.
A good way to ensure the group learns together would be to engage in a pre and post-test. In
fact. An assessment gives the team a goal to work towards and ensures learning is a priority.
Plus, you can use Bloom’s taxonomy to further hone in on specific skills.
7. Consider the learning process itself as part of assessment.
This type of learning is a process and needs explicit instruction in beginning stages.
Assessing the process itself provides motivation for students to learn how to behave in
groups. It shows students that you value meaningful group interactions and adhering to
norms.
8. Consider using different strategies, like the Jigsaw technique.
The jigsaw strategy is said to improve social interactions in learning and support diversity.
The workplace is often like a jigsaw. It involves separating an assignment into subtasks,
where individuals research their assigned area. Students with the same topic from different
groups might meet together to discuss ideas between groups. This type of collaboration
allows students to become “experts” in their assigned topic. Students then return to their
primary group to educate others.
9. Allow groups to reduce anxiety.
When tackling difficult concepts, group learning may provide a source of support. Groups
often use humor and create a more relaxed learning atmosphere that allow for positive
learning experiences. Allow groups to use some stress-reducing strategies as long as they stay
on task.
10. Establish group interactions.
The quality of discussions is a predictor of the achievement of the group. Instructors should
provide a model of how a successful group function. Shared leadership is best. Students should
work together on the task and maintenance functions of a group. Roles are important in group
development.
Task functions include:
•Initiating Discussions
•Clarifying points
•Summarizing
•Providing or researching information
•sensing group feelings
•time-keeping
•bringing people into discussion
Discussion Tools
Depending on the type of question or discussion format you want your classroom collaboration
to focus on, there are many tools available that can help.
1. SurveyMonkey
is a good way to ask a variety of questions, find out what students are thinking, use it for a
quick formative assessment, and many other possibilities. I have used it to find out how
students prepared for tests, what areas they need help with, and even for voting for club
officers and planning trips. You have the results quickly and can provide feedback instantly,
to plan your next steps in class. It can be a different way to find out about your students and
their needs.
2. Today’s Meet
is a backchannel tool that can be used in or out of class, as a way for students to contribute to
a discussion or ask questions. It can also be used to provide “office hours” online, for
students to ask questions beyond the school day. There are many possible uses for this tool,
and setting it up is easy.
3. Google meet
4. Recaps
a video response tool, where students can respond to a prompt and all responses are compiled
into a “daily reel” for teachers to view and provide feedback. Students can respond from
anywhere and feel comfortable in sharing their thoughts using this tool.
5. Zoom
Communication Through Collaboration
There are many options which promote classroom collaboration and enhance writing skills and
student voice.
Blogging
Through blogging, teachers can provide support for students and help them to gain confidence in
writing and speaking.
Wikispaces
A Wiki has worked really well in our classes for having students collaborate on a topic, create a
discussion page, and set it up to inform on a topic, to list just a few examples.
Padlet
is a “virtual wall” which promotes collaboration, communication, creativity and more because of
its versatility. Students can write a response to a discussion question, add resources for a
collaborative class project, work in small groups, use it for brainstorming or connect with other
students and classrooms throughout the world.
