Title: A project-based collaborative learning with an online evidence-based assessment system

Authors: Jiemin Zhong; Di Zou; Wai Man Winnie Lam; Haoran Xie

Addresses: School of Science and Technology, The Open University of Hong Kong, 30 Good Shepherd St, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China ' Department of English Language Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Rd, Ting Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China ' Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Rd, Ting Kok, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China ' Department of Computing and Decision Sciences, Lingnan University, 8 Castle Peak Rd, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China

Abstract: In this research, we developed an online assessment system to assist students' collaboration and quantify the collaborative learning process. We collected the learning behaviour data using this system, analysed the impact of group collaboration on students' learning performance, and explored the relationship between group collaboration and course difficulty. The results showed that the more advanced course induced more group collaboration, but group collaboration may not have significant effects on the academic achievements of the participants. Furthermore, cooperative learning had five basic elements, and face-to-face communication was essential for assessing collaborative group learning. To better measure the learning performance of the students, we improved the scoring criteria, established a more flexible assessment system, and analysed the effectiveness of collaborative learning of small groups from more dimensions.

Keywords: project-based learning; learning performance; wiki; collaborative learning; online learning; assessment; online learning system; blended learning; learning behaviour; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2021.118182

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2021 Vol.30 No.3, pp.368 - 389

Received: 25 Jan 2020
Accepted: 25 Feb 2020
Published online: 15 Oct 2021 *

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