Learning outcomes
To consider the role of collaborative learning To examine some collaborative learning
approaches To consider some aspects of educational
debate To be aware of changing aspects of teaching
and learning
Curriculum issues
Prescriptive Curriculum Experiential Curriculum
Teacher-centered Student-centred
Linear & rational Coherent & relevant
Part to whole organisation Whole to part organisation
Teaching as transmitting Teaching as facilitating
Learning as receiving Learning as constructing
Structured environment Flexible environment
Teaching vs learning
John Amos Comenius, a 16th Century scholar; summarised the approach that teaching should follow, “The main object is to find a method by which teachers teach less but learners learn more”, proving that current problems have noble pedigrees.
Collaborative learning
“Collaborative learning is an umbrella term for a variety of educational approaches involving joint intellectual effort by students, or students and teachers together. Usually students are working in groups of two or more, mutually searching for understanding, solutions or meanings, or creating a product.
Collaborative learning activities vary widely, but most center on students’ exploration or application of the course material, not simply the teacher’s presentation or explication of it”.
Smith and McGregor (1992)
Assumptions about learning
Learning is an active constructive process Learning depends on rich contexts Learners are diverse Learning is inherently social
Approaches
Collaborative learning
Co-operative learning
Problem-based learning
Writing groups Peer
teachingLearning communities Discussion
groups
Widespread use
Based on theory and validated by research Amount, generalisability, breadth and
applicability Variety of co-operative learning methods
available
R Q
Why use cooperative learning?
promote student learning and academic achievement
enhance student satisfaction with their learning experience
help students develop skills in oral communication
develop students' social skills promote student self-esteem increase student retention develop a community of learners
5 Elements of cooperative learning
1. Positive interdependence
2. Face-to-face interaction
3. Individual and group accountability
4. Interpersonal and small group skills
5. Group processing
Postive interdependence
Each group member's efforts are required and indispensable for group success
Each group member has a unique contribution to make to the joint effort because of his or her resources and/or role and task responsibilities
Sink or swim together!
Face-to-face interaction
Orally explaining how to solve problems
Teaching one's knowledge to others
Checking for understanding
Discussing concepts being learned
Connecting present with past learning
Promote each other's success
Individual and group accountability
Keeping the size of the group small.
Giving an individual test to each student.
Randomly examining students orally.
Observing each group and recording the frequency with which each member-contributes to the group's work.
Assigning one student in each group the role of checker.
Having students teach what they learned to someone else. No hitchhiking! No social
loafing
No freeloading
Interpersonal and small group skills
Social skills must be taught: Leadership Decision-making Trust-building Communication Conflict-management skills
Mutual understanding
Group processing
Group members discuss how well they are achieving their goals and maintaining effective working relationships
Describe what member actions are helpful and not helpful
Make decisions about what behaviours to continue or change
Approaches
Collaborative learning
Co-operative learning
Problem-based learning
Writing groups Peer
teachingLearning communities Discussion
groups
Problem based learning (PBL)
PBL is a learning-centred pedagogy based on current theories of learning including constructivism, social constructivism and situated learning.
Problem-based learning clearing house https://chico.nss.udel.edu/Pbl/
Mrs. Paula Embledon is a 78 year old woman who has Mrs. Paula Embledon is a 78 year old woman who has come to the emergency room complaining of shortness of come to the emergency room complaining of shortness of breath and pain in her chest. She had been in relatively breath and pain in her chest. She had been in relatively good health until three weeks previously, when she good health until three weeks previously, when she sprainedsprained..........
A new bridge has been constructed spanning a river 1 A new bridge has been constructed spanning a river 1 kilometer wide. In a recent storm, during which winds kilometer wide. In a recent storm, during which winds gusted to 120 km/hr, the bridge was observed to be gusted to 120 km/hr, the bridge was observed to be oscillating from side to side …..oscillating from side to side …..
You are the owner of a small antique shop in Kingston. You are the owner of a small antique shop in Kingston. Mrs. Jones, an old friend, has brought to you for appraisal Mrs. Jones, an old friend, has brought to you for appraisal a landscape painting which appears to be about 200 years a landscape painting which appears to be about 200 years old. She is convinced there is another painting beneath the old. She is convinced there is another painting beneath the landscape…..landscape…..
Read the Read the problemproblem
Identify learning Identify learning issuesissues
Research-LearnResearch-Learn
Return-Reread-Return-Reread-Report-ReviewReport-Review
Brainstorm- Brainstorm- hypothesizehypothesize Next pageNext page
EVALUATEEVALUATE
PBL - an iterative processPBL - an iterative process
You are a researcher in a cellular immunology lab. You You are a researcher in a cellular immunology lab. You have been given two blood samples – one of which have been given two blood samples – one of which contains anti-coagulant. An aliquot of the latter sample can contains anti-coagulant. An aliquot of the latter sample can be shown to lyse tumour cells. You conduct further studies be shown to lyse tumour cells. You conduct further studies to determine the mechanism of the killing…to determine the mechanism of the killing…
Mr. John Smith is the owner of a national company Mr. John Smith is the owner of a national company manufacturing FMCG products. Recently his company manufacturing FMCG products. Recently his company merged with an international company with a different merged with an international company with a different organisational culture…….organisational culture…….
Prof. H. Pross
Queens School of Medicine
Kingston, Ontario
Problem statement
EXEMPLAR TASK:
Based on the information provided on the handout, work in groups of four and compile a problem statement.
Approaches
Collaborative learning
Co-operative learning
Problem-based learning
Writing groups Peer
teachingLearning communities
Discussion groups
Learning communities
Sociocultural and constructivist views of learning (Lave & Wenger)
Two important questions:-1. What social engagements and processes provide the ‘proper’
context for learning?
2. What forms of co-participation might be required when engaging learners in these forms of learning.
Community types
Learning community: focus on learning together, sharing, developing relationships
Communities of practice: focus on developing professional practice
Community of enquiry: focus on enquiring about and issue/area
Knowledge community: focus on developing knowledge
Cyber communities
“…the cornerstone of an online community lies in the presence of socially close, strong, intimate ties, the development of trust, shared values and social organisation.
The quality of peoples’ relations is an important characteristic in an online community
(This will be the modified role of the teacher as an e-moderator!)
Teaching/learning
Face-to-face Blended Online
References Johnson, D.W. and Johnson, R. T. (1990) Cooperation and
Competition: Theory and Research, Edina, MN; Interaction Book Company
Lave, J. and Wenger, E. (1991) Situated learning; legitimate peripheral participation, Cambridge University Press
McConnell, D. (2006) E-learning groups and communities, SRHE/OU Press
Salmon, G. (2005) E-moderating, Open University Press Smith, B. L. & McGregor, J. (1992) What is collaborative learning? –
National Center on Postsecondary education