Learning in Communities – Networked Collaborative Learning

The advancement of Information and Communication Technology has transformed all aspects of human life including social, economic, political, cultural and educational context. Advancement of computer based technologies has changed and improved the entire learning and teaching system especially in Universities where networked classrooms offer an innovative solution into competence based education characterized by high rate of interactivity, collaborative learning spaces in conjunction with new pedagogical approaches in teaching (Frick and Bezuidenhout, 2014).

Networked Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning can simply be described as the practice of building up new knowledge and capabilities through an interaction of more than one person trying to explore a new phenomenon together through a well networked environment. This practice is more than a simple relationship of sharing information to accomplish a certain project but rather in involves an individual collaborative mindset in learning and teaching (Digenti, 2018). Thus collaborative learning is very important to address the gap of the current level of skills, knowledge and understanding.

The Learning Network

One of the aspects being considered in deigning e-learning course is that it should be learner centred with effective collaborative features to enabled networked collaborative learning among the community involved in the learning process. In the digital age a collaborative work in knowledge transmission should not be a negotiable but rather the emphasis should be in designing and modifying curricular to cope with the current learning platforms which provide students with various activities and find a viable solution in a networked and collaborative context. 

In tackling this topic, PBL15 (group fifteen) attended a number of sessions with an intensive discussions and facilitations from Diana and Jaana.  Various tools to support learning in community through a networked collaboration were identified. Padlet was one of the tool which we decided to concentrate with and do some practice. A lot of experience acquired from the assignment whereby everyone had a part to work on with Padlet reflecting the so called “Learning in Communities and Networked Collaborative Learning”.

Conclusion 

I would like to thank all my group members and facilitators for sharing their experience which will I hope will take me to the next level in implementing e-learning.

References

Digenti, D. (2018) Collaborative Learning: Real-Time Practice for Knowledge Generation. Available at: https://thesystemsthinker.com/collaborative-learning-real-time-practice-for-knowledge-generation/ (Accessed: 5 December 2018).

Frick, L. and Bezuidenhout, J. (2014) ‘Research and Development in Higher Education : Higher Education in a Globalized World Volume 37 Medical practice in a globalized world : Conceptualising’, Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, 37.