Collaborating Online by Palloff, Rena M.; Pratt, Keith;

Short description:

Collaborating Online provides practical guidance for faculty seeking to help their students work together in creative ways, move out of the box of traditional papers and projects, and deepen the learning experience through their work with one another.

Long description:

Collaborating Online provides practical guidance for faculty seeking to help their students work together in creative ways, move out of the box of traditional papers and projects, and deepen the learning experience through their work with one another. Authors Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt draw on their extensive knowledge and experience to show how collaboration brings students together to support the learning of each member of the group while promoting creativity and critical thinking. 
Collaborating Online is the second title in the Jossey-Bass Guides to Online Teaching and Learning. This series helps higher education professionals improve the practice of online teaching and learning by providing concise, practical resources focused on particular areas or issues they might confront in this new learning environment.

Collaborating Online

Collaborating Online provides practical guidance for faculty seeking to help their students work together in creative ways, move out of the box of traditional papers and projects, and deepen the learning experience through their work with one another. Authors Rena Palloff and Keith Pratt draw on their extensive knowledge and experience to show how collaboration brings students together to support the learning of each member of the group while promoting creativity and critical thinking.

Collaborating Online is the second title in the Jossey-Bass Guides to Online Teaching and Learning. This series helps higher education professionals improve the practice of online teaching and learning by providing concise, practical resources focused on particular areas or issues they might confront in this new learning environment.

Praise for Collaborating Online

"Collaborating Online eloquently explains the central role that community and collaboration play in fostering student engagement online. Palloff and Pratt also offer faculty a rich collection of practical strategies ideas that are straightforward to implement. It is the best book I have read to date on the topic."
Gail MATTHEWS-DENATALE, senior instructional designer, Academic Technology, Simmons College

"This book was an aha! experience for me. After all these years, I finally gained a blueprint for assessing collaborative learning effectively and fairly. I also kept nodding in agreement as I read the book: Palloff and Pratt present numerous practical examples of what an online classroom should be like."
Karen HODGES, vice president for learning, NorthWest Arkansas Community College

"Palloff and Pratt, the distinguished online learning authorities, have done it again with their latest book, Collaborating Online. This is must-reading for all faculty, instructional designers, and academic administrators interested in improving student retention and success in online courses."
Jack A. CHAMBERS, director, program development for instructional technology, Florida Community College at Jacksonville

Table of Contents:

Preface.

About the Authors.

PART ONE: Collaboration Online.

1. Collaboration in the Online Environment.

Collaboration The Hallmark of Constructivism.

Why Collaborate Online?

Collaboration Online.

Working with Virtual Teams.

Virtual Team Dynamics.

Summary Points to Remember on Collaboration Basics.

2. The Process of Online Collaboration.

The Stages of Collaboration.

Tools for Collaboration.

Summary Points to Remember on the Process of Online Collaboration.

3. Collaboration Challenges.

Things That Go Bump in the Night.

Participation Challenges.

Challenges in Leadership and Decision Making.

Course and Activity Design Challenges.

The Challenge of Cultural Differences.

Final Thoughts on Challenges to Collaboration Online.

Summary Points to Remember on Collaboration Challenges.

4. Assessment and Evaluation of Collaborative Work.

Learner-Centered Assessment, Including Self-Assessment.

Rubrics and Expectations.

Collaborative Assessment.

Guidelines for Feedback.

Assessment that Aligns with Context and Learning Objectives.

Assessments That Are Clear and Easy to Understand.

Assessments Designed with Student Input.

The Empowered Learner.

Summary Points to Remember on Assessment and Evaluation of Collaborative Work.

PART TWO: Collaborative Activities.

1. Role Playing.

2. Simulations.

3. Case Studies.

4. Questioning Techniques for Collaborative Discussions.

5. Dyads.

6. Small-Group Projects.

7. Jigsaw Activities.

8. Blogs.

9. Virtual Teams.

10. Debates.

11. Fishbowls.

12. Learning Cycles.

13. WebQuests.

Final Thoughts on Collaborative Activities.

Summary Points to Remember on Collaborative Activities.

Additional Resources.

References.

Index.