Collaboration
I believe that collaboration in an on-line learning environment is an essential component to a successful course. The design of New Jersey Institute of Technology’s MSPTC course PTC-603, Cultural and Technological Change, includes a significant amount of cooperation and collaboration. I experienced this intensive core course in the spring semester of 2007. Each week, after all students complete an extensive and detailed reading assignment, small sub-groups convene via WebCT private bulletin boards to complete the assignment. The sub-group communicates and makes decisions based on the feelings and opinions of each group member. A group assignment consisting of a detailed summary of the weekly reading and a discussion question designed for interaction on the public class bulletin board is developed. Each group member is required to participate and offer suggestions regarding both the summary and discussion question. Each week, one member posts the work completed by the team, and the large class group responds. more...
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