The document discusses practical ways to implement online collaborative group activities in courses. It recommends using tools like screen sharing, video chat, wikis and Google docs for group work. It provides tips for forming student groups, tracking participation, handling group issues, and providing feedback. The presenters are Andrea Stone from Oklahoma State University and Liz Crowell from University of Central Oklahoma.

1. Online Collaborative Learning:
Practical Ways to Implement
Group Activities in Your Course
Andrea Stone
Instructional Designer/Curriculum Coordinator
Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City
Liz Crowell
Instructional Designer
University of Central Oklahoma

2. 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.

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Screen Sharing

7. Video Chat

8. Papers

9. Presentations

10. Creative

11. Social Media

12. Wisdom from group project veterans:

14. Assignment Directions

15. 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.

16. Putting Students into Groups

17. 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

19. 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.

20. Track and Monitor Participation

21. 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.

22. 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?

23. Group Feedback

24. 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,.

25. Visual Knowledge Check

26. Online Collaborative Learning: Practical Ways
to Implement Group Activities in Your Course
Andrea Stone
Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City
awstone@osuokc.edu
405.945.6798
Liz Crowell – University of Central Oklahoma
ecrowell1@uco.edu
405.974.3591