· Collaboration tools

These tools support two aspects of cooperation, by offering a platform for online interaction: sharing information and organizing on the one hand, and communicating on the other hand. A separate module within the course is dedicated to the teaching methodMethods indicate how you want to teach and they specify activities for the teacher and the student. The choice of a teaching method will be related to the proposed objectives and the context. collaborative learning. We refer to that module for the different forms and the advantages and disadvantages of collaborative learning in general. A separate module is also dedicated on e-coaching.

In this module, we look at the choice of the right tools.

In “computer mediated communication” (CMC – Computer Mediated Communication), or “e-communication”, we distinguish between asynchronous and synchronous communication:

In synchronous communication, all participants communicate at the same time but not in the same place.

  • Proximity: comes close to the feeling that you are talking with someone (such as face-to-face).
  • Lends itself best for objectives where direct interaction is required.
  • Lack of flexibility: everybody must be online at the same time.
  • Demanding: quick response is expected, there is less time to think.

With asynchronous communication, participants send delayed messages to each other. It always takes time between sending, reading and replying to messages.

  • Flexibility: everyone participates whenever he is ready (practically and regarding content); Not everyone must be online at the same time.
  • Less demanding: sender and receiver have more time to think about a post or reply.
  • Protection: Negative emotions / messages.
  • Lends itself best for complex tasks that cover a longer period of time and which presuppose reflection.
  • Can cause low responsiveness: the discussion / collaboration is so slow that it threatens to lose the ‘drive’.

First the choice of a synchronous or asynchronous tool!

LINKS

Modules

Samenwerkend leren

E-coaching