Slides from the Sakai@UD training session called "Facilitating Student Collaboration". Primary tools covered: wiki, forums, resources, groups. 1-20-2010

1. Sakai@UD:
Facilitating Student Collaboration
Mathieu Plourde, Project Leader, LMS
IT-Client Support & Services

2. Participants
• Please introduce yourself.
• What are your expectations regarding
today’s session?
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3. Defining Our Terms
Communication Collaboration
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4. Communication
Communication is a process of
transferring information from one source
to another. (1)
A process by which we assign and
convey meaning in an attempt to A process of speaking, receiving and
create shared understanding. This processing feedback, clarifying,
process requires a vast repertoire of receiving more feedback, etc. In some
skills in intrapersonal and sense, it's an iterative design process
interpersonal processing, listening, with really tight feedback loops.. (3)
observing, speaking, questioning,
analyzing, and evaluating. (2)
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5. Collaboration
Tools (collaborative authoring, video
The process by which conferencing, shared whiteboards, etc.) that
people/organizations work allow multiple users to work on the same
together to accomplish a content in a common environment. (3)
common mission. (1)
A recursive process where two or
Working with other people during the
more people or organizations work
writing process, whether it is
together toward an intersection of
generating ideas, identifying a main
common goals — for example, an
idea to pursue, or suggesting possible
intellectual endeavor that is
approaches and ways of organizing;
creative in nature—by sharing
often helpful to discover new
knowledge, learning and building
perspectives. (2)
consensus. (4)
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6. Why Make Students Collaborate?
PRO CON
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7. Why Make Students Collaborate?
PRO CON
• Teamwork is a skill that must be • More police work
developed by students • Dealing with slackers
• To stimulate innovation • Individual contributions are hard to
• Groups tend to self-correct (virtuous attribute and grade
circle) • Patchworks are not collaborative
• Peer expectation and accountability
• Sets a pace
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8. What’s In It For Me?
• As an Instructor…
• Reduce Grading Workload through Group Work
• Facilitate Student-Generated Learning Content
• Facilitate 21st Century Work Skills
Win-Win Situation
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9. Collaborative Tasks and Projects
Writing a Collective
Letter/Position/
Make Lists Statement/Web Content
Group Portfolio
Meeting
Brainstorming Support
Group Projects
Collaborative
Collection of Notebook
Links Storytelling
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10. Sakai Tools for Collaborating
• Wiki • Chat
• Resources* • Blogs
• Forums*
* Group-Aware Tools
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11. A Quick Poll
1. How many of you have used a wiki?
• I have used a wiki in the past.
• I have never used a wiki.
2. How many of you have used a wiki with
your students?
• I have used a wiki with my students.
• I have never used a wiki with my students.
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12. A Web Page
Audience
Author Web Page Audience
Audience
Reference: Grenier (2007)
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13. A Wiki Page
Author/
Audience
Author/ Web Author/
Audience
Page Audience
Author/
Audience
Reference: Grenier (2007)
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14. A Wiki Demonstration Video
http://www.articulate.com/community/blogdemo/web2/engage.html
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15. Using the Wiki Markup Language
HTML Wiki Markup Final Output
<b>Bold</b> __Bold__ Bold
<ul> * Item 1 • Item 1
<li>Item 1</li> * Item 2
<li>Item 2</li> • Item 2
</ul>
Wiki Markup
Language is a
Simplified HTML
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16. Wiki Gardening
• By nature, a wiki is messy.
• Usability issues may occur.
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17. Some Recommendations
• Instructional Strategy
• Define Control and Ownership
• Define Individual and Group Work
• Use Templates
• Get Familiar with the Markup Language
• Use a Wiki Charter
• A Wiki is Not the End
• Define Your Grading Strategy
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18. Some Examples and Job Aids on Wikis
• Wikis in Higher Education:
• http://udel.edu/~mathieu/wiki/
• Faculty practices
• Job aids
• The STOLEN Principle
• http://www.a6training.co.uk/resources_Social_Software.php
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19. Experience It!
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20. Setting up Groups in Sakai
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21. Group Folder in Resources
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22. Group Folder in Resources (cont’d)
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23. Groups in Forums
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24. Synchronous Communication in Chat
• All rooms are always visible
to everyone
• The Chat tool keeps an
archive
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25. Blogs
• Blogs are individual spaces.
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26. Tools for Collaboration
• Tools can be tweaked to restrict or foster
collaboration.
• Define your goals first.
• Keep your students engaged and active.
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27. Work Sheet
• Describe ONE activity that could be modified or created
in ONE of your courses to enhance student
collaboration.
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28. Thank You!
• Questions, Comments?
• Mathieu (Matt) Plourde
Project Leader, LMS – IT-Client Support & Services
mathieu@udel.edu
http://twitter.com/mathplourde
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