Online Collaborative Issues

Online Online Collaborative Collaborative

IssuesIssuesBy: Charlotte CochranBy: Charlotte Cochran

The only person who is The only person who is educated is the one who has educated is the one who has learned how to learn...and learned how to learn...and

change.change. Carl RogersCarl Rogers

Benefits of Collaboration Benefits of Collaboration (Goessl, 2011)(Goessl, 2011)

learners actively participate learners actively participate

teachers become learners at times, and teachers become learners at times, and learners sometimes teachlearners sometimes teach

respect is given to every member respect is given to every member

projects and questions interest and projects and questions interest and challenge students challenge students


diversity is celebrated, and all diversity is celebrated, and all contributions are valuedcontributions are valued

students learn skills for resolving students learn skills for resolving conflicts when they ariseconflicts when they arise

members draw upon their past members draw upon their past experience and knowledgeexperience and knowledge

goals are clearly identified and used as goals are clearly identified and used as a guidea guide

research tools such as Internet access research tools such as Internet access are made availableare made available

students are invested in their own students are invested in their own learning. learning.


Obstacles to Participating Obstacles to Participating Collaboratively in an Online Collaboratively in an Online

ClassClass Bender (2003) suggests the following as Bender (2003) suggests the following as

barriers to participating in an online barriers to participating in an online class:class:

““students are confused by the tangled students are confused by the tangled threads of the threaded discussions threads of the threaded discussions format” (p. 68)format” (p. 68)

““student postings are excessively long student postings are excessively long and therefore create a disincentive for and therefore create a disincentive for discussion” p. 68)discussion” p. 68)

Bender (2003) continuedBender (2003) continued

When there are many students in the When there are many students in the class, the same information may be class, the same information may be repeated numerous times and repeated numerous times and students may not have anything students may not have anything original left to sayoriginal left to say

The student may not be highly The student may not be highly motivated to participatemotivated to participate

The class or the questions are not The class or the questions are not motivating enough to elicit a responsemotivating enough to elicit a response

Bender (2003) continuedBender (2003) continued

Students who do not own a Students who do not own a computer may be at a computer may be at a disadvantage since they may need disadvantage since they may need to wait for an available computerto wait for an available computer

Obstacles to Participating Obstacles to Participating Collaboratively in an Online Collaboratively in an Online

ClassClass

Technology issues (Goodell & Yusko, Technology issues (Goodell & Yusko, 2005)2005)

Fear of criticism (Ardichvili, Page, & Fear of criticism (Ardichvili, Page, & Wentling, 2003)Wentling, 2003)

Inability to manage time effectively Inability to manage time effectively (Palloff & Pratt, 2005)(Palloff & Pratt, 2005)

How to Motivate Students How to Motivate Students to Participate to Participate

CollaborativelyCollaboratively

Encourage online debates (Hodgkinson-Encourage online debates (Hodgkinson-Williams & Mostert, 2005)Williams & Mostert, 2005)

Anticipate problems and address them Anticipate problems and address them (Bender, 2003)(Bender, 2003)

Ask questions which promote constructive Ask questions which promote constructive thinking (Bender, 2003)thinking (Bender, 2003)



Use social networking cites such as Use social networking cites such as Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace to Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace to share information (Gordon, 2008)share information (Gordon, 2008)

Play devil’s advocate to help students Play devil’s advocate to help students consider a different perspective (Bender, consider a different perspective (Bender, 2003)2003)

Be encouraging to all students (Bender, Be encouraging to all students (Bender, 2003)2003)

Ask students to finish a sentence. Ask students to finish a sentence. Completing a sentence can stimulate Completing a sentence can stimulate discussion (Bender, 2003)discussion (Bender, 2003)




CollaborativelyCollaboratively Respond promptly to questions, posts or

concerns (Chamberlain & Vrasidas, 2001)

Ensure that rapport with the students and a positive community has been established (Palloff & Pratt, 2003)

Make suggestions to students on how to effectively manage their time (Varvel, 2001)


CollaborativelyCollaboratively Use activities which involves

students (Varvel, 2001)

Provide personal feedback to let the student know their work is acknowledged and appreciated (Varvel, 2001)


CollaborativelyCollaboratively Try to contact students every week

especially in the beginning of the course to encourage participation (University of Idaho, 1995)

Provide clear expectations (Hughes, 2004)

Engage students in their own learning (Conrad & Donaldson, 2004)

ReferencesReferences

Ardichvili, A., Page, V., & Wentling, T. Ardichvili, A., Page, V., & Wentling, T. (2003). Motivation and barriers to (2003). Motivation and barriers to participation in virtual knowledge-sharing participation in virtual knowledge-sharing communities of practice. communities of practice. Journal of Journal of Knowledge ManagementKnowledge Management, , 77(1), 64-77. doi: (1), 64-77. doi: 10.1108/1367327031046362610.1108/13673270310463626

Bender, T. (2003). Bender, T. (2003). Discussion-based online Discussion-based online teaching to enhance student learningteaching to enhance student learning. . Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.


Chamberlain, R., & Vrasidas, C. (2001). Creating engaging online construction. Paper presented at the 17th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, Western Illinois University.

Conrad, R., & Donaldson, J. (2004). Engaging the online learner. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.


Goessl, L. (2011). Goessl, L. (2011). Pros and cons of Pros and cons of using Microsoft PowerPoint using Microsoft PowerPoint presentationspresentations. Retrieved February . Retrieved February 12, 2011, from 12, 2011, from http://www.helium.com/items/97626http://www.helium.com/items/976269-pros-and-cons-of-using-microsoft-9-pros-and-cons-of-using-microsoft-powerpoint-presentationspowerpoint-presentations


Goodell, J., & Yusko, B. (2005). Overcoming Goodell, J., & Yusko, B. (2005). Overcoming barriers to student participation in online barriers to student participation in online discussions. discussions. Contemporary Issues in Technology Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Educationand Teacher Education, 5(1), 77-92. Retrieved , 5(1), 77-92. Retrieved from from http://www.citejournal.org/articles/v5i1currentpractice1.pdf

Gordon, R. (2008). Gordon, R. (2008). The five biggest barriers to The five biggest barriers to online participationonline participation. Retrieved February 7, 2011, . Retrieved February 7, 2011, from http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2008/10/the-from http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2008/10/the-five-biggest-barriers-to-online-five-biggest-barriers-to-online-participation005.htmlparticipation005.html


Hodgkinson-Williams, C., & Mostert, M. (2005). Hodgkinson-Williams, C., & Mostert, M. (2005). Online debating to encourage student participation Online debating to encourage student participation in online learning environments: A qualitative case in online learning environments: A qualitative case study at a South African university. study at a South African university. International International Journal of Education and Development using Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication TechnologyInformation and Communication Technology, , 11(2), (2), 94-104. Retrieved from 94-104. Retrieved from ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/include/getdoc.php?ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/include/getdoc.php?id=564&article=93&mode...id=564&article=93&mode...

Hughes, J. (2004) Hughes, J. (2004) Supporting the online Supporting the online learnerlearner


Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2005). Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2005). Collaborating online: Collaborating online: Learning together in communityLearning together in community. San Francisco, CA: . San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.Jossey-Bass.

Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2003). Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2003). The virtual student: A The virtual student: A profile and guide to working with online learnersprofile and guide to working with online learners . . San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

University of Idaho. (1995). Strategies for teaching at a distance.


Varvel, V. (2001, March/April) Facilitating every student in an online course

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