Collaborative Learning In College Education

April 12th, 2004DLC Independent Research

MembersWilliam BeachleyJun ChenHuda KhanSarah Kim-WarrenScott Zweig

OverviewMotivationsExplore benefits, disadvantages, barriers to collaborationExplore status of collaboration in classroomsLead into technology suggestions for Implementation Project

OverviewMethodsExploration of LiteratureUse of Collaboration in Educational SettingsBarriers to Collaborative SuccessSurveyTwo classesDifferent views on collaborationFormulate Questions of InterestCollect Answers

Reading ListReadingBook:Bennis, W. & Biederman, P. W. (1997) Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration, Perseus Books, Cambridge, MA.

Reading List (Cont.)Reading Articles that Covered:Traditional education vs./incorporating the use of collaborationBenefits and Drawbacks of using collaborative learning methods in college educationInstructional techniques and environments for using collaboration in-classSurveys and Evaluation of collaborative groups with regard to academic performance

Traditional MethodsKnowledge transferred from teacher to studentsExamples:Lecture-style classesLimited InteractionStudents:PassiveSolve problems and study course material in isolationIsolated to allow for individual grade-based evaluation

Traditional Methods (Cont.)DisadvantagesMaterial learned to take tests, not because of personal interestDeep understanding not supportedAfter test taken, material forgotten or not retainedCollaborating with others discouragedInformation emphasized but not understanding process of where to find relevant informationSkills for working with others not builtDo not understand each others strengths and weaknessesNot accustomed to solving problems of real-world complexity

Benefits of CollaborationSolving real-world complex problems, wicked problemsRequires different areas of knowledge and expertiseAchieve more than working in isolationLearners engaged in the construction of their own knowledgeKnowledge RetentionDeep UnderstandingPersonal Relevance and InterestCognitive Elaboration

Benefits of Collaboration (Cont.)Social and Teamwork SkillsInterpersonal CommunicationHow to work with diverse people and opinionsNeeded in Personal and Professional LivesAttitudes towards LearningStudents more actively engagedEnjoy process moreAcademic PerformanceSeen to improve with the use of collaborative groupsTest scores higher

DrawbacksInadequate Contribution or Free-RidersNot all members contribute equallyFrustration with processTime ManagementFinding Meeting Times for GroupOrganizational OverheadCreating timelineMaintaining and supervising responsibilities

Barriers to CollaborationFocus on Isolated Work in Traditional EducationUnfamiliar or Unused to Group Work ProcessesMust understand benefits and relevanceOvercome negative experiences or lack of experienceReflect on value to personal learning

Group ActivityTwo TeamsBecome ExpertsRedistributeShare ExpertiseNecessary to Solve ProblemPositive Interdependence

Successful CollaborationPositive InterdependenceNature of problem: Ill-definedDiversity of opinions, background, knowledgeSymmetry of IgnoranceCommon Goal and MotivationGroup Incentive

Successful Collaboration (Cont.)Paradigm ShiftsMotivation and Understanding of BenefitsReflection on Group ProcessesWhats In It For Me?Assessment and Evaluation ProcessesFree-Riders and Inadequate ContributionIndividual and Group Assessment

Collaborative GroupsCooperative GroupsInformalFormalCooperative Base GroupsPairsThink-Pair ShareDyadsPeer-Support GroupsWorkshopsSupplemental Instruction

SurveyBroad QuestionsWhat is the extent of collaboration in our chosen college classes?Homework, Tests, StudyIn-Class or Out-of-ClassWhat are students perceptions regarding collaboration?Helpful in learningPositive outcomes or experiencesNegative experiencesMotivated to collaborate

Survey Questions: AttitudesAttitudes Towards Collaborative LearningQ.7: What do you like about collaborative learning?A) Work is Divided Up Among Each MemberB) New and Different Ideas and OpinionsC) I Feel that I Can Accomplish More in a Group than on My OwnD) Other (Please Specify)

Survey Questions: ProblemsProblems with Collaborative LearningQ.8: What do you dislike about collaborative learning?A) Scheduling DifficultiesB) Inefficient Organization of the WorkC) Free Riders Not Doing their PartD) Conflicts of Opinions and IdeasE) Other (Please Specify)

Survey Questions: BarriersBarriers To Collaborative LearningQ.9: What do you consider to be barriers to collaborative learning?A) Insufficient Support from TeachersB) Incomplete Education on How to Work in a GroupC) Lack of Resources (e.g. group study room)D) Lack of Technology that Support Group WorkE) Other (Please Specify)

Survey: Positive CommentsCSCI 7000New ideas/good idea/brainstormExperience/more achievement/more effectiveGroup work/group effort CSCI 2270Fun/interesting/entertaining/enjoyableTeam work/helpful/good/effective/constructive/efficient Organized/greater potential/ideas/sharing/efficient

Survey: Negative CommentsCSCI 7000Waste of time/inefficient use of timeTough to organizeNot motivated to do any group workCSCI 2270Frustrating/arguments/conflicts/stressFree-loaders/inefficient/unorganizedDifficult/complicated/time consuming/communist

SummaryGoal: study collaborative learning in college educationWhat we did:Research Collaborative Learning LiteratureSurvey Status of Collaborative Learning in Classrooms

Summary (Cont.)Collaborative Learning TheoryRole of Collaborative LearningBenefits, Drawbacks and BarriersSuccessful Collaboration Collaborative GroupsSurveyExtent of CollaborationStudents Perception

Summary (Cont.)Survey data confirms theoryBenefits: different ideas and opinions, greater achievement, able to solve hard/large problemsProblems: scheduling, free-riders More than 50% students rather work with others than oneself

Future WorkOpen questionscollaboration skills, incorporation of CL into education system, evaluation, technology support, etc.New forms of collaborative learning in lifelong learningWhat: any topicWhere: school, working place, home, onlineWhen: anytime, asynchronous/synchronous, lifelong

Our contribution - FEELFeedback Enhanced Environment for Learning (FEEL)Hands-on ProjectProblem: unidirectional communication and limited student involvement in large classesFEEL technology supports in-class collaboration between instructor and studentsstudent-oriented teaching, better learning experience

What else have we learned?How to conduct an IRTopic selectionLiterature searchSurveyHow to collaborate in a groupOrganize workMaximize individual contributionMuch more

Questions?