This document discusses collaborative learning in online and distance education. It defines collaborative learning as active knowledge construction through negotiation, explanation, and argumentation that empowers students to take responsibility for their own learning. Asynchronous collaborative learning involves backwards course design focused on what students will learn from activities rather than what the teacher delivers. It flips the classroom from lectures to discussions. Effective collaborative learning involves frequent interaction, feedback, and tasks situated in realistic contexts. While technology enables collaboration, it does not ensure it will occur spontaneously without experience and training. The role of the teacher is to guide inquiry, monitor understanding, and address dysfunctional group dynamics. Assessment should be part of the learning process, including individual and group assignments as well as participation.

1. Tutoring in online and
distance education
D-TEL 2016, Kristiansand
Sven Åke Bjørke & Aleksandra Lazareva
Department of Global Development and Planning

2. Collaborative learning
• Active knowledge construction
– Negotiation, explanation, argumentation
• Empowering students to take responsibility
for their own learning
What’s collaborative
learning?
Let’s figure
it out!
Pics: pixabay.com

3. The four Cs
Four key qualities for the Information Age
Creative,
efficient Communicator,
Critical thinker and
Collaborator

4. Asynchronous collaborative learning
• Backwards design
– Focus on what the students will have learned
when completing the course
– Learning activities rather than what the teacher
delivers
• Flipping the classroom
– Different levels of understanding (Bloom’s
taxonomy)
– Articles & videolectures  discussions

5. High quality learning situation -
”Productive interaction”
• Active engagement
• Frequent teamwork
• Regular interaction and feedback
• Basis in realistic and motivating tasks
• Contextualised
• Dynamic and adapted for change
• Peer assessment

6. Collaborative learning circle
Read
Discuss
Assess
Reflect
Do /
Make
Assess
Discuss

7. Major pitfall
• Taking for granted that collaboration will occur
simply because technology makes it possible
– Usually collaboration doesn’t happen
spontaneously
– Lack of experience in collaborative learning
– Insufficient training in the use of technology

8. Online collaborative learning
• Benefits
– Different backgrounds (cultural, institutional,
professional)
– Different prior knowledge
– Learning across time and space (e.g.,
asynchronous platforms)
– Presence
Pic: pixabay.com
Lack of social cues
Often based on expectations;
temporal organizationchallenge
Different behaviorsare considered relevant
Common ground challenge;
different need for support

9. Role of the teacher
• Guiding learners in the process of inquiry
• Monitoring learners’ understanding
• Addressing dysfunctionalgroup phenomena

10. • Tools in use• Course
structure and
requirements
• Safe
environment
• Encourage
• Monitor
• Prompt
Pedagogical Social
TechnicalManagerial
Online tutoring

11. Assessment
Assessment is part of the learning process
Online credit giving course (example)
• 60% home exam
• 30% group hand-in
• 10% individual portfolio:
– Online quizzes
– Participation statistics
– Contributions in discussion forum & group hand-ins
– Individual blogs

12. Thank you!
sven.a.bjorke@uia.no
aleksandra.lazareva@uia.no
E-book: Team and onlinecollaborativework
http://grimstad.uia.no/puls/Groupwork/main.htm