One of the challenges of online learning is providing opportunities for students to establish relationships with fellow students and, in the case of working adults, to network with others in their field. One way to encourage connections is through collaborative assignments.
A simple way to do this is to ask students to brainstorm ideas and post them to the Wiki tool available in Blackboard, but there are many other online platforms that allow students to work simultaneously and collaborate on a shared document or product. One way I incorporate this into my class is by assigning students to small groups and providing a scenario that requires them, as “subject matter experts,” to build a shared product throughout the semester. I believe this type of assignment potentially promotes deeper learning because students analyze fellow group members’ contributions.
Additionally, they can use other students’ work as an example, which potentially helps them develop their own ideas and elevate the quality of their work. For example, in the form of an infographic or newsletter, students develop a “guide” for educators who are new to facilitating adult learning. Each student adds content to the shared visual as we cover new material and provide fellow group members with meaningful feedback. Each students work can be reviewed individually so they do not share a grade for the final product.
While I allow students to choose the tool they want to use, it needs to be accessible to both you and to your students. Two that have proven successful for me are Canva and Vennage. It’s important to provide detailed instructions and to closely monitor progress, especially at the beginning of the semester. Finally, a nice byproduct is that if the assignment is developed in the cloud students can access it after the course ends.
How To
We Want to Hear from You
What teaching tips have you picked up working remotely? Please let us know so we can learn from you and share the work you are doing. Would you like to be part of a conversation about how to promote student collaboration remotely? Let us know by contacting John Pijanowski and we will be in touch to schedule a small group consultation via zoom where we can share ideas, work through technical questions, and learn from each other.