Theory collaborative learning

Venla VallivaaraLET – Learning and Educational Technology Research UnitUniversity of Oulu2012-09-27

Collaborative Learning

Learning Theory and Pedagogical Use of Technology2012-09-27

Venla Vallivaara


During this lecture we will explore…

• What is collaborative learning?• How does collaboration improve learning?• What is the main theoretical background of

collaborative learning research?• What are the prerequisities for collaborative

learning?• How can we support collaborative learning?


What is collaborative learning?

How does collaboration improve learning?


What is collaborative learning?

” a situation in which two or more people learn or attempt to learn something together”

”A coordinated synchronous activity that is the result of a continued attempt to construct and maintain a shared conception of a problem”

collaborative learning vs. cooperative learning

Dillenbourg, P. (1999). What do you mean by collaborative learning? In Dillenbourg, P. (Ed.) Collaborative learning: Cognitive and Computational Approaches.Roschelle, J. & Teasley S. (1996). The construction of shared knowledge in collaborative problem solving.


• When have you experienced truly collaborative learning?

• Do you think your learning was more efficient due to that collaboration? Why?

• What things or circumstances supported your collaboration in that situation?


Why does collaboration improve learning?

• Opportunity to externalize your thinking and by that develop them further

• Awareness of your own thoughts, realizing the differences between viewpoints

• Motivation to explain your thougths when they are not clear enough for the others to understand

• Discussing on more abstract level to find the common ground for the joint discussion and problem solving

• Utilizing the variety of knowledge and expertise within the group

Häkkinen, P. & Arvaja, M. (1999). Kollaboratiivinen oppiminen teknologiaympäristöissä. Teoksessa Eteläpelto, A. & Tynjälä, P. Oppiminen ja asiantuntijuus.


What is the main theoretical background

of collaborative learning research?


Socio-constructivist approach on learning

• Piaget ”The Genevan School”• How social interactions affect individual

cognitive development?• ”it is above all through interacting with others,

coordinating his/her approaches to reality with those of others, that the individual masters new approaches”

• Individual cognitive development as a result of spiral causality

• Socio-cognitive conflicts

Doise, W. & Mugny, W. (1984). The Social Development of the Intellects. Doise, W. (1990). The development of individual competencies through social interaction. Dillenbourg, P., Baker, M, Balye, A. & O’Malley, S. (1996). The evolution of research on collaborative learning.


Socio-culturalapproach on learning

• Vygostsky Socio-cultural perspective• Causal relationship between social

interaction and individual cognitive change?

• Genetic law of cultural development:– Inter-psychological processes (social speech)– Intra-psychological processes (inner speech)

• Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind and Society: The development of Higher Psychological Processes. Dillenbourg, P., Baker, M, Balye, A. & O’Malley, S. (1996). The evolution of research on collaborative learning


Shared cognitionapproach on learning

• Perspectives of sociology and anthropology shared cognition and situated cognition

• Environments as a integral part of cognitive activity– Physical context– Social context

• Culture, social communities, language, structure of social meanings and relationships

Dillenbourg, P., Baker, M, Balye, A. & O’Malley, S. (1996). The evolution of research on collaborative learning. In E. Spada & P. Reimans (Edls) learning in Humans and Machine: Towards an interdisciplinary learning science (pp 189-211). Oxford: Elsevier.


• What are the challenges you have faced in collaborative learning situations?

• What things or circumstances have complicated or hindered the collaboration?


What are the prerequisities for collaborative learning?


Prerequisities for collaborative learning

• Equality and symmetry • Grounding• Commitment • Certain way of

discussing things • Misconceptions and

disagreements allowed• Open questions vs.

factual questions• Partly overlapping areas

of expertise

• Individual prerequisities

• If technology is used:– Support for fluent

interaction– Diversity, flexibility– Usability– Reliability

Häkkinen, P. & Arvaja, M. (1999). Kollaboratiivinen oppiminen teknologiaympäristöissä. Teoksessa Eteläpelto, A. & Tynjälä, P. Oppiminen ja asiantuntijuus..


How can we support collaborative learning?

How can we script collaboration?


Supporting collaborative learning

• Because collaboration in learning situations does not often occur spontaneously, there’s a need for instructional support

• With scaffolding we can support learners as they accomplish tasks that they would not be able to accomplish on their own (Zone of Proximal Development)

• Scaffolds can provide support– On a content-related or conceptual level– Related to the interactive processes between students

Kollar, I; Fisher, F & Hesse, F. W. (2006). Collaboration scripts - A Conceptual Analysis. Educational Psychology Review 18:159-185.


Supporting collaborative learning with technology

• Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL)– Technology can support

collaborative problem solving by making thinking visible and by fostering the discussion during the learning process

– The cognitive load can be shared with technology as well as with other people

Häkkinen, P. & Arvaja, M. (1999). Kollaboratiivinen oppiminen teknologiaympäristöissä. Teoksessa Eteläpelto, A. & Tynjälä, P. Oppiminen ja asiantuntijuus.


Questions?

Comments?