2. Promotes deeper levels of
knowledge
Promotes initiative, creativity
and development of critical
thinking skills
Promotes Co-creation of
knowledge
Promotes Reflection
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3. A sense of community must exist for collaboration to occur
• Avoid isolation: Promote social presence, communication, and
interaction. Provides more satisfaction and generates new ideas.
• Sharing information: Helps build a community of shared
experiences for students.
• Learning together: Is the process of getting students together to
learn. Research has shown students learn more about the content
by sharing experiences with others.
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4. All the people involved
Shared purpose
Sharing information, experiences, interests, resources
Guidelines
Structure of the course, ground rules for participation and interaction
Technology or Meeting Places
Collaborative Learning
Student-to-student interaction
Reflection
To reinforce and transform the learning
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5. As individual learners, we have areas of proficiency.
When grouped together, each person brings
something unique to the group.
By learning to work together, learners are able to
discuss/debate their understanding and gain
perspective from other students.
When a group works toward a common goal, the end
result is achieved quicker if each participant is on the
same level of understanding and participation.
Helps learners develop social skills needed to be
successful in the workplace.
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6. Positive Experience – School Based PLC
Group Norms/Rules Set
Meeting Time Established
Open Forum for Brainstorming
Informal Meetings as well through instant messenger and chance encounters in
hallway
Everything had to be positive in the meetings. We established together that
there were no dumb ideas!
This PLC works because of the respect we have for each other as colleagues and
there is no jealousy in terms of test scores, etc. because we collaborate for the
betterment of our department/subject area.
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7. Negative Experience – Virtual PLC
No Group Norms/Rules Set
No Meeting Times Established
No Opportunity for Brainstorming and Collaboration of Ideas, etc.
No Agenda or Purpose
Unfortunately, this PLC was doomed from the start due to the lack of focus and
direction with the absence of group norms/rules.
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8. Forming: Groups get to know one another.
Norming: Groups figure out how to work together.
Storming: Problem-solving where there will be disagreement
and/or conflict.
Roles must be negotiated in order to work together
Conflict results from multiple viewpoints due to different perspectives and
experiences
Healthy conflict results in a higher quality product and greater success
Performing: Groups work to complete the task.
Adjourning: Groups end the work and disband or regroup for
other tasks.
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9. Set the Stage - Provide explanations of
the importance of collaborative work as
well as clear guidelines.
Create the Environment – Provide a place for students to meet and
include the parameters for how they should connect.
Model the Process – Set the example of good collaboration by
allowing students to negotiate some of the parameters within which they
with work with others and with you.
Guide the Process – Let students know in advance how the instructor
plans to be involved in the process and guide the process gives students
a sense of confidence to move forward.
Evaluate the Process – Determine if specific learning objectives were
met and give students a chance to debrief the activity
10. Promote a sense of
community among
learners.
Set well defined goals.
Allow teams to self-
organize. Leadership and
expertise will emerge from
the group.
Require a Group Learning
Agreement.
Require a Group Timeline.
Provide timely feedback.
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