Upon completion of this module, participants will be able to:

1. Develop effective small group activities for use with online courses
2. Apply strategies for successful management of small group activities

Overview

Most postsecondary instructors are familiar with Chickering’s “Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education.” In “Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever” these seven practices have been updated with examples of the most cost-effective and appropriate ways to use technology to implement those principles. Principle #2: Good Practice Develops Reciprocity and Cooperation Among Students is particularly relevant to this module:

Working with others often increases involvement in learning. Sharing one’s ideas and responding to others’ improves thinking and deepens understanding.

The increased opportunities for interaction with faculty noted above apply equally to communication with fellow students. Study groups, collaborative learning, group problem solving, and discussion of assignments can all be dramatically strengthened through communication tools that facilitate such activity.

The extent to which computer-based tools encourage spontaneous student collaboration was one of the earliest surprises about computers. A clear advantage of email for today’s busy commuting students is that it opens up communication among classmates even when they are not physically together.

This module encourages you to explore the characteristics you need to build into your online group activities in order for them to be successful. To begin, go to the Readings section for this module.

Next: Readings