This document discusses collaborative learning and how information and communication technologies (ICTs) can foster collaboration. It defines collaborative learning as educational approaches involving joint intellectual effort between students or students and teachers. Theories behind collaborative learning include social constructivism, cooperative learning, and situated learning. The document then lists various ICT tools that can enable collaboration, such as Web 2.0 tools, immersive learning environments, and online conferencing. It stresses that pedagogical designs like problem-based learning and project-based learning are important for effective use of ICT tools to support collaborative learning.

1. Collaborative Learning and ICTsCollaborative Learning and ICTs
Sanjaya Mishra
To collaborate is to work jointly with othersTo collaborate is to work jointly with others
'Collaborative learning' is an umbrella term for a'Collaborative learning' is an umbrella term for a
variety of educational approaches involving jointvariety of educational approaches involving joint
intellectual effort by students, or students and teachersintellectual effort by students, or students and teachers
together. Usually students are working in groups of twotogether. Usually students are working in groups of two
or more, mutually searching for understanding,or more, mutually searching for understanding,
solutions, or meanings, or creating a productsolutions, or meanings, or creating a product
ICTs can foster collaborative learningICTs can foster collaborative learning

2. Theories behind CLTheories behind CL
Social constructivist learning theory:Social constructivist learning theory:peoplepeople
learn through sociallearn through social interaction and peer relationships andinteraction and peer relationships and
achieve their developmental milestones as a result ofachieve their developmental milestones as a result of thatthat
interactioninteraction
Cooperative learning:Cooperative learning:It'sIt's is a relationship in ais a relationship in a
group of students that requires positivegroup of students that requires positive interdependence,interdependence,
individual accountability (towards learning), interpersonalindividual accountability (towards learning), interpersonal
skills (communication, trust, leadership, decision making,skills (communication, trust, leadership, decision making,
and conflict resolution), and interactionand conflict resolution), and interaction
Situated learning:Situated learning:learning occurs in authenticlearning occurs in authentic
contexts with socialcontexts with social interaction and collaboration as the keyinteraction and collaboration as the key
componentscomponents

3. ICT Tools for CLICT Tools for CL
Web 2.0 toolsWeb 2.0 tools
text-based communication toolstext-based communication tools
emailemail
blogsblogs
wikiswikis
instant messaging/chatinstant messaging/chat
microbloggingmicroblogging
immersive learning environmentsimmersive learning environments
electronic gameselectronic games
3D virtual worlds3D virtual worlds
people networkspeople networks
discussion forums – web (+email)discussion forums – web (+email)
groups and communitiesgroups and communities
servicesservices
social softwaresocial software
online conferencingonline conferencing
interactive whiteboardsinteractive whiteboards
voice over IP (VoiP).voice over IP (VoiP).

4. Pedagogical DesignsPedagogical Designs
Problem-based learningProblem-based learning
Project-based learningProject-based learning
Reciprocal teachingReciprocal teaching
Group workGroup work
Design of learning activity is important to theDesign of learning activity is important to the
use of ICT tools.use of ICT tools.