Promoting Collaborative Learning in Online Classes
Suggestions from R. Palloff and K. Pratt (2007) Building Online Learning Communities: Effective Strategies for the Virtual Classroom, John Wiley & Sons, San Francisco, CA
These are a few suggestions that might be relative to your online teaching. Collaborative learning is a powerful principle and your students might benefit from working together. See if you could apply some of the following examples:
Have students read a case study and then with a partner from class come to consensus on issues involved in the case, a diagnosis of the problem, a treatment plan, or suggestions to resolve the issue or problem. Post their work as a position paper.
Students form teams and come up with a discussion topic which the group researches. They must also post questions to each other and summarize answers to the questions. The team then decides the format they want to use to present the research on the topic to the whole class. The group organizes around that format with individual members taking on different responsibilities for the presentation.
Student teams develop and produce a simulation or role play that demonstrate one of the main concepts or principles for the subject. The simulation could then be performed live by the team or using animations or props.
The interdependence of the students will help create learning communities and encourage collaboration and group study habits that can translate to their future lives.