Building a Collaborative community within the online environment
Studies have shown that collaboration is
the
key to learning in
the
online environment. By learning in an engaged community students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge, embrace new ideas and
receive constructive feedback. Students cannot be passive knowledge-absorbers who rely on the
instructor to feed them information. In the online environment, it is imperative that they be active
knowledge-generators who assume responsibility for constructing and managing their won learning experiences (Conrad & Donaldson, 2011).
The goal of a collaborative community in an
online course is twofold: building knowledge & competencies within learners and building a network of mutual respect and sharing of ideas
and perspectives (Boettcher &
Conrad, 2010).
Begin your discussion by reflecting on
your
own collaborative learning experiences in an
asynchronous online environment. Consider the following questions:
- How can instructional designers and instructors design collaborative activities into the asynchronous online learning environment?
- What are some core principles that are essential to building collaboration in the online environment?
- What are some of the benefits for learners when using collaborative activities in the asynchronous environment?
By Wednesday:
Create a discussion post that reflects on your own learning experiences within the online environment
that incorporated online collaborative activities. What could have made the learning experience better?
Provide at least 4 examples for instructors and students in
regards to using and
designing collaborative activities within the online environment.
By Sunday:
Reply to at least three of your classmate’s initial post and provide insight, constructive feedback, and
ideas that expand and deepen the initial discussion post.
Discussion rubric:
References:
Boettcher, J., & Conrad , R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass A Wiley Imprint.
Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. (2011). Engaing the online learner. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass A Wiley Imprint.
