Effective and Creative Ways to Implement Group Projects in Virtual Classrooms

Audience Level: 
All
Institutional Level: 
Higher Ed
Abstract: 

Scholarship suggests learning benefits to working in a group, such as (1) improving the ability to communicate effectively, (2) cooperate with others to lead and work effectively in teams. This session is designed to interact and facilitate the audience with hands-on knowledge around the implementation of virtual group work.

Extended Abstract: 

Research indicates that skills in collaborative work are essential for students to engage and collaborate as global citizens. Scholarship also suggests there are social, psychological, and learning benefits to working in a group, such as (1) improving the ability to communicate effectively, (2) cooperate with others to lead and work effectively in teams, and (3) to organize, delegate, and negotiate. This session is designed to interact with the audience and facilitate the audience in gaining material as well as hands-on knowledge around the implementation of virtual group work.

Collaborative skills are vital for students learning within the online realm. With the changes in innovation and technology, interaction using helpful resources is important for online learners. During the presentation, attendees will explore practical strategies for promoting computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), also known as online group learning. Learn new and effective ways to implement collaborative learning, cooperation, commitment, and communication in virtual classrooms.

Within the online collaborative learning environment, multiple students interactively work together to solve or explore a problem (Reeves, Herrington, & Oliver, 2002). A key to ensuring each individual participates and learns is through the technique of reciprocal teaching. Through reciprocal teaching online learners must showcase evidence of their understanding of course materials, share with group members, and practice a cognitive approach for learning (Reeves et al., 2002). Several forms of interaction could be used within the online environment within the group aspect, which includes brainstorming, case studies, and symposia (Curtis & Lawson, 2001). Using this research we are offering participants through live interaction the opportunity to improve techniques for group virtual leaning.

Session Type: 
Education Session