1. www.blendedschools.net
Identifying Opportunities for
COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES
Providing Engaging Learning Environments

2. www.blendedschools.net
Symptoms of Poorly Designed
Activities
• Vapid posts
• Useless posts
• Thoughtless participation
• Cooperation (not collaboration)
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Providing Engaging Learning Environments

3. www.blendedschools.net
The Cure?
• Better instructions! Featuring:
– Collaboration (not just cooperation)
– Autonomy
– Higher-order thinking tasks
– Worthwhile products
#bsnwebinar
Providing Engaging Learning Environments

4. www.blendedschools.net
Cooperation or Collaboration?
Cooperation Collaboration
• Splitting a task • Synthesizing contributions
• Lower-order thinking • Higher-order thinking
• Prescribed outcome • Open-ended
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Providing Engaging Learning Environments

5. www.blendedschools.net
Autonomy
• Solicit opinions,
• Allow free reign, or
• Invite comparisons
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Providing Engaging Learning Environments

6. www.blendedschools.net
Higher-Order Thinking
• Bloom’s Taxonomy Keywords
– Analysis
• Analyze, compare, contrast, infer, outline, relate
– Synthesis
• Compile, compose, create, devise, design,
explain, plan
– Evaluation
• Criticize, critique, defend, evaluate, justify,
support
#bsnwebinar
Providing Engaging Learning Environments

7. www.blendedschools.net
Worthwhile Products
• Why should a student read his or
her peers’ posts?
– Intrinsically motivating topic
– Examples of difficult concept
– Source for subsequent activity
– NOT because they have to (even if
they do)
#bsnwebinar
Providing Engaging Learning Environments

8. www.blendedschools.net
Should I Implement This Activity
Using a Collaboration Tool?
Yes No
• Collaborative • Cooperative or Solitary
• Autonomous • Prescribed Outcome
• Higher-order Thinking • Lower-order Thinking
• Worthwhile Product • Busy Work
#bsnwebinar
Providing Engaging Learning Environments