This presentation is part of a workshop which aims to enable participants to apply key theories of collaborative learning to activity design, to appreciate why group work and collaborative learning are important and to select and implement appropriate online tools to support collaboration and group work. The theories which are explored include, the zone of proximal development, Social Interdependence, Cognitive Development Effect, Connectivism and Cognitive Elaboration Perspectives.

1. Aligning collaborative learning
theory with technology
Mark Jasper, Anna Verges & Adele Aubrey
The University of Manchester
(With thanks & acknowledgment to Peter Whitton
Salford University)
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

2. Overview
●What is Collaborative Learning?
●Which theories underpin Collaborative
Learning?
●What are the educational benefits?
●Which technologies can assist
Collaborative Learning?
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

3. index
Facilitation
○Our aim is to give you space to
collaborate
○We want to observe you in action
but will provide guidance if required
CEEBL
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

4. CEEBL
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

5. index
Shipwrecked
Working on your own and without
collaboration, consider your situation and
choose an item to bring to the island - ideally
something that may improve your chances of
survival.
● Write the item that you have chosen down
on a Post-it Note.
● How do you rate your chances of survival?
2 mins MAX
CEEBL
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

6. index
Shipwrecked
You discover that the other people at your
table have also survived the shipwreck. Find
out what items the others have chosen to
bring to the island.
● If you pool your resources as a group, how
do rate your chances of survival now?
2 mins MAX
CEEBL
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

7. index
Shipwrecked
Working with the others at your table, compile
a list of items to maximise your chances of
survival on the island – again one item each.
● How has working collaboratively enhanced
your groups chances of survival?
5 mins MAX
CEEBL
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

8. What is the background of the
collaborative learning theories we
are introducing?
●Vygotsky’s (1978) view of social
constructivism where students’
expand their knowledge in a social
context.
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

9. What evidence is there that
collaborative learning works?
● Johnson, Johnson and Smith (2007)
● Johnson, Johnson, Stanne (2000)
● Slavin, (1983, 1991)
● Cooperative learning (enquiry-based group
work) compared to individual competitive
efforts tend to result in higher achievement.
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

10. In what ways can collaborative
learning result in higher
achievement?
●Motivation
●Teamwork
●Information retention
●Problem solving
●Attendance
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

11. How to make collaborative learning
successful?
1. Positive Interdependence
2. Face-to-face promotive interaction
3. Individual and group accountability
4. Interpersonal and small group skills
5. Group Processing
(Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec, 1993)
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

12. index
Collaborative Learning Theory
Activity
Summarise and describe the essential
aspects of a Collaborative Learning Theory
in your own words, and in three sentences.
(using group discussion to help refine your
own definitions)
● A representative will be randomly selected
from your group to present to the whole
room - the presentation will take no more
than 1 minute
15 mins CEEBL
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

13. index
Reflection Activity
What just happened?
● How did working in a group help you
construct an understanding of the
learning theory?
● Take 3 mins to reflect on your own, then
share your reflections and insights with
your group.
5 mins
CEEBL
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

14. Collaborative Tools Activity
Summarise and describe the essential
aspects of a collaborative tool visually
(use the resources provided & organise your
group as necessary)
10 mins
CEEBL
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

15. index
Scenarios Activity
Complete the COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
ACTIVITY DESIGN TEMPLATE.
Applying and utilising the collaborative
learning theory and tool that you have just
explored
25 mins
CEEBL
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

16. References
● Johnson, Johnson and Smith (2007). The state of cooperative learning in
Postsecondary and professional settings, Educational Psychology Review,
19; 15-29
● Johnson, Johnson, Stanne (2000). Cooperative Learning Methods:
A meta-analysis
● Johnson, Johnson, Holubec (1993) Cooperation in the classroom
● Slavin, R. (1983) Cooperative Learning. New York: Longman
● Slavin R. (1991) Student team learning: A practical Guide to Cooperative
learning, Washington National Education Association
● Vygotsky L. (1978) Mind in Society; the development of higher psychological
processes. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

17. Google site
This presentation and all the resources can
be viewed on our website
http://sites.google.com/site/collaborationtheory/
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

18. Social Interdependence Theory
(Johnson & Johnson)
○ Social interdependence exists when the
accomplishment of each individual’s
goals is affected by action of others
○ Promotive interaction – where
individuals encourage and facilitate each
other’s efforts to complete tasks, achieve
or produce in order to reach groups’
goals – relies on positive social
interdependence CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

19. Sociocultural Theory
(Vygotsky)
○ Individuals learn and develop in a social
context
○ Social learning precedes development
○ Social interaction plays a fundamental
role in the development of cognition
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

20. Cognitive Development
(Vygotsky)
○ Social interaction between the learner
and a knowledge adult is essential to
cognitive development
○ The zone of proximal development is
determined by the cognitive task the
learner completes in collaboration with
an advanced peer
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

21. Cognitive Elaboration
(Dansereau, O’Donnell & Webb)
○ Information processing processes –
such as encoding, schema activation,
rehearsal, meta-cognition, retrieval –
performed in the presence of peers
result in deeper learning and motivation
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

22. Connectivism
(Siemens)
○ Learning in a digital age is a continual
process of connecting specialized nodes
or information sources, involving
meta-skills such as evaluation, drawing
connections/distinguishing and decision-
making
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

23. wikis
○ Easily editable webpages
○ Can be open to all or confined to a group
○ Contributions and changes can be
monitored, reviewed and rolled back
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

24. blogs
○ A series of webpages organised
chronologically
○ Entries can also be organised by
category or keywords
○ Often created by a single author
(so useful for reflective practice)
○ A comments feature allows readers to
respond to each blog entry
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

25. mind maps
○ Online applications for note making &
brainstorming
○ Changes can be rolled back to previous
versions
○ Online real-time collaboration
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

26. cloud computing
○ A suite of applications for collaborative
document production
○ Changes can be rolled back to previous
versions
○ Documents can be easily presented
online
CEEBL
Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning

27. Slide Index
1. Overview 1. Tool activity
2. Facilitation 2. Activity design
3. Ship image 3. References
4. Icebreaker: individual 4. Google Site URL
5. Icebreaker: aggregate 5. Social interdependence
6. Icebreaker: collaborative 6. Sociocultural theory
7. Collaborative learning 7. Cognitive Development
background 8. Cognitive Elaboration
8. Evidence 9. Connectivism
9. Benefits 10. wikis
10. Making it successful 11. blogs
11. Theory activity 12. mind maps
12. Reflection 13. cloud computing