Pedagogical and Technological Considerations Designing Collaborative Learning Using Educational Technologies

Abstract

Digital educational technologies can be used by instructors to help students create collaborative knowledge in the higher education classroom. This chapter describes six case studies, based on a mixed-methods research approach, that demonstrate the use of a specific digital educational technology. These technologies, which include social media, collaboratively written online documents, webinars, clickers, simulation games, and Web technologies, have been integrated into a course for the purpose of enhancing both learning and collaboration among students. The instructors explained how these technologies improved student learning and fostered collaboration. Each case study provides technical, epistemological, cognitive, and social design features and suggestions for other instructors who are considering applying these technologies to their own courses.