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Active and Collaborative Learning* - Engage Your Students with Each Other

Page history last edited by Julie Magadan 13 years, 1 month ago

Introduction

 

There are a number of things to consider when designing and selecting instructional activities, whether they be for in-person, hybrid or online classes.  At the end of this workshop you will be able to:

 

  1. Explain the concepts of active and collaborative learning.
  2. Describe the technologies that can be used to facilitate active and collaborative learning, specifically student-student interaction.
  3. Select one existing instructional activity and modify it to become a technology-mediated collaborative learning activity.
  4. Select a technology you want to learn more about.

 

 

 

Review and Getting Started

 

To review, there are 4 types of interaction present in classes: student-instructor, student-content, student-student and student-technology.  This session will focus on instructional strategies and activities that facilitate student-student interaction (collaborative learning).  There are a number of strategies you can employ to get students working with one another - after all, we know that learning doesn't occur in isolation. 

 

Let's begin with a short activity!

 

  1. Quietly reflect on the following question:  How do you define active and collaborative learning?  Let's not focus on research and studies but instead your experiences as a learner and teacher. 
  2. Turn to your neighbor and discuss your response. 

 

Active/Collaborative Learning Defined

 

 

 

 

 Active learning occurs when the students are engaged with the content, the instructor and other students.  Active learning puts the process of learning into the students' hands - they are writing, talking, creating, solving, reading, etc.   It can include cooperative or collaborative learning. 

 

Collaborative learning occurs when students work together toward a common goal (creation or production of something, solving a problem, learning a new concept etc.), in which the success of the group depends upon the contributions of each group member.  "Collaborative learning is based on the idea that learning is a naturally social act in which the participants talk among themselves. It is through the talk that learning occurs.   In a collaborative learning setting, learners have the opportunity to converse with peers, present and defend ideas, exchange diverse beliefs, question other conceptual frameworks, and be actively engaged."

Source: National Institute for Science Education

 

Technology Tour - Collaborative Learning Technologies

 

For in-person, hybrid and online online classes, collaborative learning can take many forms and can use a variety of instructional technologies (student reflection, group work, discussion, mindmapping, document sharing, collaborative writing, social networking, web presentations, web conferencing, video conferencing, whiteboarding, project management and more). 

 

Use the provided handout and the following descriptions/samples of collaborative technologies.   Use the matrix to identify which tool(s) can be used to facilitate the active/collaborative learning strategies listed.  Place a mark in each appropriate cell.  One technology has been completed for you as an example.  Work with a partner or in a group of 3 to complete this activity - ask each other questions and use each others' expertise to complete the worksheet.

  

 

 

Develop a technology-mediated activity

 

Use the provided handout and the above descriptions/samples of collaborative technologies.   Think about your current classes and instructional activities.  Identify 1 classroom activity/assignment that is either collaborative but not technology mediated (e.g. the students work in partners or groups to create something but they do not use a particular tool) or that is not collaborative and you would like to modify to become collaborative (e.g. changing an independent project to a group project).

 

Select a technology from those listed to integrate into the activity.  Describe the activity, identify the learning outcomes (the instructional goal) and explain how the technology will by you and your students (how will the technology add to or facilitate their learning).   Work with a partner or in a group of 3. 

For More Information

 

If you are really interested in exploring, check out this MindMeister map on the "Best Online Collaboration Tools 2010."  Keep in mind online tools go by the wayside, so it is possible the map contains dead links.

 

 

Click here to complete the workshop survey!

 

 

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