The Use of Collaborative Assignment in Online Learning Environments: The Case of Higher Education

Abstract

Many studies investigated the use of collaboration at conventional teaching environment in different educational levels. The present study examines students’ behavior during a collaborative assignment in an online learning environment in higher education. Data were collected by graduate students who were attending a course at a distance learning master degree program in Special Education. The developed group dynamics and students’ beliefs about their role during the activity were “revealed” by their reactions to the discussion forum, their private e-mails to the instructor, their activity at the platform and their contribution on the assignment, for which the wiki tool was used. Results indicated that although students were at the same time in-service or pre-service teachers at primary and secondary education and they were expected to implement group work at their teaching, they had low self-efficacy beliefs in using it as students in online learning environment. Their major difficulties were related with their fear about possible negative consequences concerning their marks due to other members’ behavior and the lack of experiences. Suggestions on how the group work and the collaborative assignment can be integrated more effectively in an online learning environment in higher education courses are discussed