10 tips on how to facilitate collaborative learning in an online environment. Based on Bridley, Blaschke, and Walti's "Creating Effective Collaborative Learning Groups in an Online Environment" (2009).

1. Facilitating and Managing
Collaborative Learning
10 Tips for the Online Environment

2. Be Transparent with Expectations
● Post group work requirements in the course
syllabus
● Ensure the learning objective is clear
● Be open to discussing purpose and process
with reluctant students

3. Make Sure Instructions are Clear
● Be clear about what the task is, timelines,
end result
● This will allow students to focus on learning
collaboratively, rather than clarifying
assignment details

4. Is the Task Appropriate?
● Ensure that there is an advantage to
completing the task collaboratively as
opposed to individually
● Example: each member brings a piece of
the puzzle, resulting in more knowledge and
a decreased workload for the students

5. Consider Relevance
● Activities such as peer-reviews and case
studies can ensure that collaborative learning
will apply to real-life and career-related
scenarios
● This will create meaning and relevance for
students while making learning memorable

6. Motivation for Participation
● Individual success is dependent upon
collaborative success
● Future learning may build upon this
collaborative activity

7. Readiness of Learners
● Ensure that students are confident with the
subject matter
● Allow students the opportunity to develop a
sense of community and collaborative
learning skills

8. Timing of Group Formation
● Form groups early so that students can build
relationships
● Allow for a research period where students
can get to know one another, discuss the
task, and brainstorm ideas

9. Respect for Learner Autonomy
● Provide guidelines but allow students
freedom to form or move between groups
● Provide a virtual space for groups to work

10. Monitoring and Feedback
● Student interactions are monitored by the
instructor
● Provide meaningful and timely feedback
● Keep students on course if needed

11. Sufficient Time is Given
● Allow students enough time to work together,
acknowledging they may not be online at the
same time
● If it is a large project, give smaller timelines
to stay accountable to

12. References
Brindley, J., Blaschke, L., & Walti, C. (2009). Creating Effective Collaborative Learning Groups in an Online
Environment. The International Review Of Research In Open And Distance Learning, 10(3). Retrieved from
http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/675/1271