Share Paper: Facilitating Collaboration in Online Groups

1. Geralyn Stephens, Wayne State University, United States

Abstract: Abstract: 21st Century employers are expecting new hires to already possess group-work skills and will seek evidence of their ability to cooperate, collaborate and complete projects with colleagues, including remotely or at a distance. Instructional activities and assignments that provide students with a variety of ways to engage have a direct and immediate effect on their academic performance. Research supports that academic success is positively impacted by students’ levels of engagement with the content, their peers and the faculty (Astin, 1999; Kuh, 2003; Liu, Magiuka, Bonk, & Lee, 2007). Incorporating concepts for scaffolding instruction (Bruner, 1961) as a foundation, this ...