THE NEED FOR ONLINE COLLABORATION…Walden University

Tracy Snow

Collaboration tools

Collaboration Promotes Best practices Interaction Interactivity Development of critical thinking skills Co-creation of knowledge Reflection Transformative learningPalloff & Pratt, 2005

Need Instructors are always looking for ways to

improve student interaction in classes. They understand that collaboration online is different than that of face to face. They may not have the necessary tools to make this happen successfully (Palloff & Pratt, 2005). Increasing opportunity for interaction is critical for online learning. Collaboration allows this.

Research

Ling Thompson and Heng-Yu Ku from Regis University and the University of Northern Colorado conducted a case study to investigate the relationship between the degree of online collaboration and quality of group projects. They needed to find our how important collaboration was to online learners as they work on group projects, and how belonging to a community is essential in a collaborative learning experience (Kirschner, 2004; Palloff & Pratt, 2005). Their findings were based on four teams working in groups and their interactions. It was based on four different characteristics: participation, Interdependence, synthesis, and independence.

Results (project 1 & 2)Project 1 & 2

Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team 4

Total statements (participation) 952 346 686 339

Interaction pattern(Interdependence)

15 0 18 9

New Ideas(Synthesis) 352 69 293 221

Msg to Instr.(Independence 2 9 1 0

Results (project 3&4)Project 3 & 4 Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team 4

Total statements(participation) 663 n/a 675 219

Interaction Pattern(interdependence) 7 n/a 10 1

New Ideas(Synthesis) 294 n/a 292 62

Msg. to instructor(Independence) 0 n/a 2 3

Development

The problem that this innovation encountered was the disbandment of team 2. Two members quit, and the other 2 joined teams 3 & 4. The audience for this innovation is professors (teachers).

COMMERCIALIZATIONThere was no commercialization in this case study. For future studies, the need to implement technology will be investigated.

Degree of online collaboration and team performance.

Time lineConfirmation (Students reinforce the decision to collaborate and seeks to avoid discourse)

Timeline of collaboration tools

1971 •Email developed by Ray Tomlinson

1985 •Development of virtual communities

1994 •Ward Cunningham invented Wikis

1997 •The term weblog was coined

2003 •Skype was released, My Space becomes popular

2004 •Web 2.0 released, Face book launched

Why Online Collaboration Working virtually is the next best thing

that happened to us after the Fire and the Wheel. Working impeccably, across limitations, round the clock is the new way to work. Have you tried this way of working yet? I am talking about “’team work” and “collaboration”. So for teamwork to be effective, it’s important for individuals to adopt modern practices and technologies that help.

Why Online Collaboration Tools

Wherever you are, share your work in a simple and efficient way. This is where good online collaboration tools come in. If you’re contemplating adopting--or proposing the adoption of online collaboration tools, there are online collaboration benefits that may help you make a decision on this useful technology. Blogs, Wikis, and Skype are a few tools that enable people to communicate and collaborate online.

Engaging Tools

Content

•software•Web page

Communication

•email•SkypeColl

aboration

•Blogs•Wikis

Engaging learners with tools

ContentWeb pageSoftware

Search engines

Growth of Innovation S-Curve

1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 20120

50000100000150000200000250000300000350000400000

Forecast of Internet Hosts

Five attributes of Innovation

Relative Advantage The degree to

which an innovation is perceived as being better than the idea it supersedes (Rogers, 2003). Online shopping has advantages over going to a store, driving in traffic, and waiting in lines.

Compatibility The degree to

which an innovation is perceived as consistent with the existing values, past experiences, and needs of potential adopters (Rogers, 2003). Windows 7 replaced an earlier version.

Complexity The degree to

which an innovation is perceived as difficult to understand and use (Rogers, 2003). There are some innovations that are complex, but full of opportunities.

Trialability It helps to be able to

try innovations before buying. While this isn't common for most innovations it can reduce any uncertainty the buyer might have about committing to a purchase and can increase the speed of diffusion.

Observability When people can see

an innovation being used, they are more likely to buy it. Examples are a car, homes, and computers. Innovations that are hard to see, diffuse slowly (http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view).

Critical Mass

Critical Mass