Student Collaboration Online in A Critical Thinking Course

INTRODUCTION This article identifies several benefits of student online collaboration and describes a number of collaborative tools that can be used without charge. The author also shares with readers several different strategies for promoting collaboration, including some of his personal tips and suggestions, based on his experience of teaching an online course on Critical Thinking at UMass Boston. I. COLLABORATION AND ITS BENEFITS A simple definition of collaboration is--working together to produce a common goal. The American Heritage Dictionary defines collaboration as "To work together, esp. in a joint intellectual effort" (p. 291). Online education can be greatly enhanced with collaborative activities where students actually communicate with each other and work together online. There are numerous benefits to having students engage in collaboration. Collaboration creates a sense of belonging to an online community, promotes communication, encourages critical thinking and cooperation among students, and reduces or eliminates isolation. Taking an online class can be a lonely and isolating experience. However, once collaboration is introduced, students communicate with each other, work together to complete assignments and engage in critical thinking by making decisions, checking for assumptions and identifying their own points of view, while being exposed to other points of view or perspectives. Eastern Michigan University has identified several benefits to collaboration. On their website (1) it states the following: * Collaboration ensures a more effective use of individual talent * A second and closely related benefit is the transfer of knowledge or skills * Collaboration may be a source of stimulation and creativity * Collaboration provides intellectual companionship * Collaboration extends the individual researcher's networks * Collaboration enhances dissemination of projects (Loan-Clarke & Preston, 2002) The Rochester Institute of Technology's website (2) reports that online collaboration: * Promotes critical thinking skills. * Promotes creative thinking through social stimulation and sharing of ideas. * Requires active student involvement in the learning process. Students increase preparation and practice working with one another. * Provides a social support system for students. * Builds diversity understanding among students * Develops team skills used on the job and beyond. Why use collaboration? Brian Goff, a RIT student, best answers this question as follows: In the working world, many employers do expect their employees to solve problems in teams. It only makes sense that multiple minds are better than one. Therefore, I believe instructors who have their students work in teams better prepare them for the working" world. (3) II. COLLABORATIVE TOOLS Having noted some of the numerous benefits for online student collaboration, I describe in this section various collaborative tools that they can use. A. Google and Its Features Google, the search engine offers a lot more than just searching. Once you have an email account with Google (called Gmail), there are many features that you will be able to access. (If you don't have a Gmail account, just go to www.Gmail.com and click on the button that says "Create an Account." Complete the online application and you will have full access. Google Phone--using this software enables you to call anywhere in the US for free. Gmail--email and the ability to send Instant Messages, also known as "texting." Google Documents--including a spreadsheet, presentation software and the most practical software--a word processing program. This allows students to work asynchronously. …