Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to show how a large group of students can work collaboratively in a synchronous way within the classroom using the cheapest possible technological support. Making use of the features of Single Display Groupware and of Multiple Mice we propose a computer-supported collaborative learning approach for big groups within the classroom. The approach uses a multiple classification matrix and our application was built for language-learning (in this case Spanish). The basic collaboration mechanism that the approach is based upon is “silent collaboration,” in which students—through suggestions and exchanges—must compare their ideas to those of their classmates. An exploratory experimental study was performed along with a quantitative and qualitative study that analyzed ease of use of the software, described how the conditions for collaborative learning were achieved, evaluated the achievements in learning under the defined language objectives, and analyzed the impact of silent and spoken collaboration. Our initial findings are that silent collaboration proved to be an effective mechanism to achieve learning in large groups in the classroom.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen, B., Crosky, A., McAlpine, I., Hoffman, M., Munroe, P. (2006). A blended approach to collaborative learning: Can it make large group teaching more student-centred. In Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education: Who’s Learning (pp. 33–41)
Axelrod, R., & Hamilton, W. D. (1981). The evolution of cooperation. Science, 211(4489), 1390.
Beers, P. J., Kirschner, P. A., BoshuizenH, P., & Gijselaers, W. H. (2007). ICT-support for grounding in the classroom. Instructional Science, 35, 535–556. doi:10.1007/s11251-007-9018-5.
Bennerstedt, U., & Linderoth, J. (2009). The spellbound ones: Illuminating everyday collaborative gaming practices in a MMORPG. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning-Volume 1 (p. 404–413)
Brown, A., & Campione, J. (1996). Psychological theory and the design of innovative learning environments: On procedures, principles, and systems. In L. Schauble & R. Glaser (Eds.), Innovations in learning: New environments for education (pp. 289–325). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Bruns, A. (2007). Produsage: Towards a broader framework for user-led content creation. Creativity and Cognition, 6, 13–15.
Brush, T. (1998). Embedding cooperative learning into the design of integrated learning systems: Rationale and guidelines. Educational Technology Research and Development, 46(3), 5–18.
Cohen, D., Raudenbush, S., Ball, D. (2003). Resources, instruction and research. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 25
Diggelen, W. V., & Overdijk, M. (2007). Small-group face-to-face discussions in the classroom: A new direction of CSCL research. Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (pp. 727–736). New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA: International Society of the Learning Sciences
Dillenbourg, P. (1999). What do you mean by collaborative learning? In P. Dillenbourg (Ed.), Collaborative-learning: Cognitive and computational approaches (pp. 1–19). Oxford: Elsevier.
Elmore, R. F., Peterson, P. L., & McCarthey, S. J. (1996). Restructuring in the classroom: Teaching, learning, and school organization. San Francisco: Josssey-Bass Inc.
Fawcett, L. M., & Garton, A. F. (2005). The effect of peer collaboration on children’s problem-solving ability. The British Journal of Educational Psychology, 75, 157–169.
Girvan, C., & Savage, T. (2010). Identifying an appropriate pedagogy for virtual worlds: A communal constructivism case study. Computers & Education, 55(1), 342–349.
Gokhale, A. A. (1995). Collaborative learning enhances critical thinking. Journal of Technology Education, 7, 22–30.
Gutwin, C., & Greenberg, S. (2004). The importance of awareness for team cognition in distributed collaboration. In E. Salas & S. M. Fiore (Eds.), Team cognition: Understanding the factors that drive processes and performance (pp. 177–201)
Hung, H., Young, S. S., Lin, C. (2009). Constructing the face-to-face collaborative game-based interacted environment for portable devices in English vocabulary acquisition. Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (pp. 370–374). Rhodes, Greece: International Society of the Learning Sciences
Infante, C., Hidalgo, P., Nussbaum, M., Alarcón, R., & Gottlieb, A. (2009). Multiple mice based collaborative one-to-one learning. Computers & Education, 53(2), 393–401.
Inhelder, B., & Piaget, J. (1964). The early growth of logic in the child: Classification and seriation. Routledge and Kegan Paul
Janssen, J., Erkens, G., Kanselaar, G., & Jaspers, J. (2007). Visualization of participation: Does it contribute to successful computer-supported collaborative learning? Computers & Education, 49(4), 1037–1065.
Jara, C. A., Candelas, F. A., Torres, F., Dormido, S., Esquembre, F., & Reinoso, O. (2009). Real-time collaboration of virtual laboratories through the internet. Computers & Education, 52(1), 126–140.
Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (1999). Making cooperative learning work. Theory Into Practice, 38(2), 67–73.
Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2002). Learning together and alone: Overview and meta-analysis. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 22(1), 95–105.
Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2009). An educational psychology success story: Social interdependence theory and cooperative learning. Educational Researcher, 38(5), 365.
Kaplan, F., DoLenh, S., Bachour, K., Yi-ing Kao, G., Gault, C., Dillenbourg, P. (2009). Interpersonal computers for higher education. In P. Dillenbourg et al. (Eds.), Interactive artifacts and furniture supporting 129 collaborative work and learning, volume 10 (pp. 1–17)
Kittur, A., & Kraut, R. E. (2008). Harnessing the wisdom of crowds in wikipedia: Quality through coordination. Proceedings of the 2008 ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (pp. 37–46). San Diego, CA, USA: ACM
Malone, T. W., & Crowston, K. (1990). What is coordination theory and how can it help design cooperative work systems? Proceedings of the Third Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (pp. 350–370). New York, USA: ACM Press
Moraveji, N., Kim, T., Ge, J., Pawar, U. S., Mulcahy, K., Inkpen, K. (2008). Mischief: Supporting remote teaching in developing regions. Proceeding of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Sigchi Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 353–362). Florence, Italy: ACM
Nussbaum, M., Alvarez, C., McFarlane, A., Gomez, F., Claro, S., & Radovic, D. (2009). Technology as small group face-to-face collaborative scaffolding. Computers & Education, 52(1), 147–153.
Parker, R. K., Rieff, M. L., & Sperr, S. J. (1971). Teaching multiple classification to young children. Child Development, 42(6), 1779–1789.
Pavlovych, A., & Stuerzlinger, W. (2008). Effect of screen configuration and interaction devices in shared display groupware. Proceeding of the 3rd ACM International Workshop on Human-Centered Computing (pp. 49–56). Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: ACM
Pawar, U. S., Pal, J., Toyama, K. (2006). Multiple mice for computers in education in developing countries. Proceedings of IEEE/ACM ICTD 2006 (pp. 64–71). Piscataway, NJ: IEEE
Raposo, A. B., Magalhaes, L. P., Ricarte, I. L. M., Fuks, H. (2001). Coordination of collaborative activities: A framework for the definition of tasks interdependencies. Proceeding of the 7th International Workshop on Groupware (CRIWG) (pp. 170–179). IEE Computer Society
Roschelle, J., Abrahamson, L., & Penuel, W. (2004). Integrating classroom network technology and learning theory to improve classroom science learning: A literature synthesis. San Diego: Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association.
Roschelle, J., & Teasley, S. D. (1995). The construction of shared knowledge in collaborative problem solving. In C. O'Malley (Ed.), Computer supported collaborative learning (pp. 69–100). Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
Roschelle, J., Tatar, D., Chaudbury, S. R., Dimitriadis, Y., Patton, C., & DiGiano, C. (2007). Ink, improvisation, and interactive engagement: Learning with tablets. IEEE Computer, 40(9), 38–44.
Scott, S. D., Mandryk, R. L., & Inkpen, K. M. (2003). Understanding children’s collaborative interactions in shared environments. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 19(2), 220–228.
Slavin, R. E. (1996). Research on cooperative learning and achievement: What we know, what we need to know. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 21(1), 43–69.
Spada, H., Meier, A., Rummel, N., Hauser, S. (2005). A new method to assess the quality of collaborative process in CSCL. Proceedings of the 2005 Conference on Computer Support for Collaborative Learning (pp. 631)
Stahl, G., Koschmann, T., Suthers, D. (2006). Computer-supported collaborative learning: An historical perspective. Cambridge handbook of the learning sciences, 2006
Teasley, S. (1995). The role of talk in children’s peer collaboration. Developmental Psychology, 3(2), 207–220.
Tudge, J. R. (1992). Processes and consequences of peer collaboration: A Vygotskian analysis. Child Development, 63(6), 1364–1379.
Wallace, J., Scott, S., Stutz, T., Enns, T., & Inkpen, K. (2009). Investigating teamwork and task work in single and multi-display groupware systems. Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 13(8), 569–581.
Zagal, J. P., Rick, J., & Hsi, I. (2006). Collaborative games: Lessons learned from board games. Simulation and Gaming, 37(1), 24–40.
Zea, N. P., Sanchez, J. L. G., Gutierrez, F. L. (2009). Collaborative learning by means of video games: An entertainment system in the learning processes. Proceedings of the 2009 Ninth IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (pp. 215–217). IEEE Computer Society
Zurita, G., & Nussbaum, M. (2004). Computer supported collaborative learning using wirelessly interconnected handheld computers. Computers & Education, 42(3), 289–314.
Acknowledgments
This work was partially funded by FONDECYT-CONICYT 1100309.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Szewkis, E., Nussbaum, M., Rosen, T. et al. Collaboration within large groups in the classroom. Computer Supported Learning 6, 561–575 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11412-011-9123-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11412-011-9123-y