CORAL C ollaborative On-line Research And Learning

CORALCollaborative On-line

Research And Learninghttp://coral.wcupa.edu

Coral Objective:

A pedagogy promoting active learning in the classroom.

Places responsibility in the hands of the learner.

Overview The collaborative project is an applied

research project comprised of psychology students enrolled in two different courses at WCU and CUP.

Students at WCU are enrolled in a Senior Seminar, Dynamics of Small Group Behavior.

Students at CUP are enrolled in a Psychology of Women course.

Project guides (TA’s) are former students of CORAL course.

Characteristics of CORAL

Teams based at two different sites

Collaborative Writing

Develops sense of community

Teamwork Shared goals Focused

outcomes

Course delivery is consistently changing

Interaction & feedback

Faculty & Peer guidance

Active creation of knowledge and meaning

CORAL Pedagogy Promotes Active Learning

Is structured by the professors, but led by the students.Offers different teaching and learning styles.

Fosters active learning & independent thinking.Time management – of self – others - the team!

CORAL Pedagogy Transforms competition to collaboration

Learning to collaborate with team members at distant & home sites.

Expressions of support and encouragement exchanged among team members.

Students transform from competition and contention [Individual Gain] to collaborative problem-solving based on reflection & interpretation of experiences [Mutual Gain].

Provides exposure to technology – the relationship of person to machine.

Team Evaluation Criteria

Collaborative Tangram Paper Progress Reports

Research proposal Team development

Video ConferencesWeb Board postings

Collaborative Research ProposalCollaborative Analysis of Group Processes - PowerPoint Presentation, Video Conference & Written Paper

Team Evaluation Criteria

Process Scales: Collaborative

Communication Scale(CCS)

Collaborative Satisfaction Scale (CSS)

Instructor Satisfaction Scale (ISS)

Weekly Team Rating Scale (WTRS)

Content Scales: APA Format Research

Methodology Social Psychology Group Psychology Self-Perception Learning

Outcomes

Collaborative Technology Collaborative Technology ToolsTools

Survey of Internet experience Web Board (web-based discussion boards) Coral Reef (real-time chat room) Video Conferencing (ISDN / ATM) File Manager Coral Website Desktop Video Conferencing: Laptops with Net

meeting capabilities On-line Calendars E-Mail

Web (Discussion) Boards

Are the primary means of communication.

Allow asynchronous communication.

Encourage exchanging team ideas as well as socializing.

Messages are threaded. Messages are archived

every 2 weeks.

CORAL Reef

A on-line chat room Used by teams for synchronous

communication Used on a weekly basis Teams schedule chats

Video Conferencing Used for discussion

and decision-making in organizing their research & collaborative analysis proposal.

Assists students in defining ‘team-member roles’. i.e. who is responsible for various parts of the research proposal.

Used for synchronous PowerPoint presentations.

Encourage greater cohesion among sites.

File Manager Accessible anywhere on the Internet

On-line file managers are used to:

Edit papers Exchange articles Stores drafts of papers Drafts of PowerPoint presentations The file cabinet for each team. Share teams communication patterns

Web Cams & Laptops

Allow students access to CORAL tools, the discussion boards, file-managers, chat rooms, and websites.

Desktop video-conferencing via NetMeeting. Purpose – to contact team members when decisions need to be made outside of their scheduled class.

On-Line Calendars

Organize due dates Are used to schedule chats Organize team members’

schedules Organize differences in university

schedules (e.g., spring breaks).

Benefits of the Model

Can be used across or within disciplines. Allows student enrolled in different courses to work

together, integrating topics. Allows students at different points in their

undergraduate careers to work together, thereby encouraging mentoring.

Improves undergraduate writing skills. Measures communication patterns.

Superordinate GoalsHigh appeal value to both teams

Underlying hypothesis: Common goal(s) are established whereby achievement is possible only by working together as a team.

Based on the assumption – Contact Familiarity Comfort Tolerance/Liking

Superordinate goals - Tangram paper, semester plan, research proposal, collaborative analysis paper

Help to bind teams and give impetus to resolve conflict and distance.

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Forming - Meeting, team logo, collaboration (tangram project) [3 weeks]

Storming - Task Clarification[4-8 weeks]

Norming -Duty/Role Clarification

Performing -“Work”

Adjourning - Settlement and Closure

Confusion,Confusion,Anxiety, Anxiety,

Trepidation!Trepidation!

Team Phases Forming Storming Norming Performing

Instructors /

Project Guides Leadership

Direct & provide structure for the team, clarifies expectations about how to initiate team project & group process (select wtw data collector).

Leader coaches the group by helping them focus on goals & expectations, managing process and conflict, generating ideas, and explaining decisions.

Leader acts primarily as a facilitator providing encouragement, helping to build consensus, and giving feedback

Leader still facilitates team process, but tasks and objectives are delegated. Leader oversees and identifies when the group is moving to a different stage

Purpose &

Goal clarity

Members are discover relevant parameters of the purpose and goals. There is little agreement or commitment to team mission

Options are generated and challenged as the group stretches parameters. There is increased clarity, yet some misconceptions linger.

Agreement from most; genuine commitment is forming. The group is moving toward unity.

The whole team shares a commitment to overarching goals; a tangible vision for the team is accepted.

Team RolesTask-Oriented Roles: These are roles that address the group's task. Each has a characteristic strength and weakness!

Chair/Leader/Manager/Self-confident, commands respect, good speaker, thinks positively, good at guiding the team. (Can be domineering)EvaluatorCareful, makes good judgments, test ideas, evaluates proposals, helps team avoid mistakes. (Can become isolated, aloof, pessimistic, over-critical)FinisherPainstaking, conscientious, follows through and works hard to finish things properly. Meets deadlines; pays attention to detail. (Can be over-anxious and perfectionist)

Maintenance Roles: These roles focus on how the group works

together!ElaboratorClarifies and expands others' ideas through examples, illustrations, explanations.EncouragerFriendly, warm, responsive to others, praises others and their ideas, agrees with and accepts the contribution of others.FollowerGoes along with the group, somewhat passively accepts ideas of others, serves as audience during discussions.

Non-Functional Roles: These are roles that detract from the group's efforts; try to avoid performing any

of them! AggressorInsults, criticizes, and blames others, showing jealousy and ill-will. Makes jokes at others' expense; tries to deflate the ego or status of others.BlockerConstantly objects to others' ideas and suggestions, insisting that nothing will work. Always complaining, never satisfied.