Online Collaborative Learning: Practical Ways to Implement

Group Activities in Your Course

Andrea StoneInstructional Designer/Curriculum Coordinator

Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City

Liz CrowellInstructional Designer

University of Central Oklahoma

Agenda

• Why should you use group projects?• What tools should you use?• Wisdom from group project veterans

NOTE: Italicized items have been added based on audience input.

Why do you use (or want to use) group projects in your classes?

Why use group projects?

• Reduce grading• Get better work• Facilitate transformative learning• Foster connections• Positive peer pressure• Increase the tension to facilitate learning• Preparation for future work teams.• Increase competition

What tools should students use?

• Screen Sharing – Join.me or Google Hangout• Video Chat – FaceTime or Skype• Papers – Wikis, Google Docs, or Sync.in• Presentations – Google Presentations• Creative – MixBook for Educators• Social Media – Facebook or Twitter• Social Bookmarking - LiveBinders

Screen Sharing

Video Chat

Papers

Presentations

Creative

Social Media

Wisdom from group project veterans:

Assignment Directions

For this project you will meet with your group and present a solution for the case study in chapter 7. It is due on July 10, 2012.

Work with your group to complete the project.

WHERE?WHAT GROUP?

PRESENT?

IS THAT ENOUGH

TIME?HOW?

Putting Students into Groups

Some ideas…

• Geographically (if they will meet)• Online Only or Meet Face to Face• Based on the time they are available to meet• Work style (last minute vs. work ahead)• Topic based• Major based• MBTI Type based (same or complimentary?)• Other ideas?• Astrological signs• Future-career based• Current occupation

Facilitating Group Communication

Get them talking!

• Integrate group communication into your online course. – Communication tools in your LMS – Additional methods described earlier

• Remind them to talk.• Provide early, low-credit opportunities to

practice collaboration.• Have office hours dedicated to the group

project.

Track and Monitor Participation

Track and Monitor Participation

• Check on the communication tools you have provided.

• Ask to be cc’d on emails. • Use project development formats with

tracking like Google Docs, Google Presentations, and Wiki’s with versioning.

• Stagger deadlines to boost ongoing participation and interaction.

Have a Group Divorce Policy in Place…Just in Case

• Under what conditions?• By unanimous or majority?• How does the group notify the kickee

and the instructor?• How are grades earned by the group

and the individual?• Are there penalties for being kicked out?• Is there a deadline?

Group Feedback

Group Feedback

• Allow the group to determine part of the grade

• Preserve anonymity• Ask behavioral questions• Use survey tool. Example at

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VMZLPBJ,.

Visual Knowledge Check

Online Collaborative Learning: Practical Ways to Implement Group Activities in Your Course

Andrea StoneOklahoma State University – Oklahoma City

awstone@osuokc.edu405.945.6798

Liz Crowell – University of Central Oklahomaecrowell1@uco.edu

405.974.3591