1. Improve Collaborative Learning Process
through Classroom Redesign
Iwan Tjhin
Faculty of Business and IT

2. Background
» Learners were encouraged to » Drawing-related courses
participate in discussions
» Drew / sketched on books
» Actively took part in discussions
» Discussions were in round-robin or
» Received feedback from other voluntary orders
learners
» Feedbacks were more verbal than
» Worked well in smaller group visual

3. Before
Within class session Outside class session
Students Students
Lecturer Lecturer

4. Before
» Implications
» Dominated by more assertive students
» Time constraint
» Class session ended = Collaboration ended
» More learners = Less participations

5. Objectives
» “Knowledge not shared is knowledge wasted”
» To include as many learners possible
» To extend discussions to outside class sessions
» To empower less assertive learners
» To archive discussions

6. Technology
Local (possibly remote) server for
dedicated forum
Switch
Lab computers for learners
(each has a touch screen with stylus)
Moderator’s computer
(if required in institution practice)

7. Process Flow
Students Students
Students Students

8. Process Flow
Learners post
Learners post replies Learners receive
discussion questions
(drawings, charts, notes) feedbacks
to dedicated forum

9. After
Within class session Outside class session
Students Students
Lecturer Lecturer

10. After
» Implications
» No more time constraint
» Class session ended ≠ Collaboration ended
» More learners = More participations
» More discussion outputs
» Feedbacks were more visual than verbal
» Contributed to building knowledge bank

11. Comparison
» Participation rate comparison
Participation Before After
Increment
(per week) Within Outside Within Outside
Average initiated discussions 4.50 - 7.25 7.50 328%
Average replies per discussion 7.61 - 8.57 7.85 216%
Average initiated discussion per learner 0.32 - 0.52 0.54 331%
Average replies per learner 2.45 - 4.44 4.21 353%
Average replies per learner per
0.54 - 0.61 0.56 217%
discussion

12. For the future
» Whether adoption of such approach may contribute toward improving
motivational level and participation rate of Maori, Pacific Islander and Youth
students?
» “Don’t need to be on the spotlight”
» Whether this approach may have adverse effects on students’ verbal
communication skills?
» “Hiding behind the screen”
» How touch technology may transform classroom and computer lab layouts?
» “Windows 8 roll out next year”

13. Thank You