Title: Learning objects for collaborative learning in engineering programmes

Authors: Neelam Soundarajan; Robert J. Gustafson

Addresses: Computer Science and Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA ' Engineering Education Innovation Center, College of Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA

Abstract: The importance of collaborative learning for engineering students to succeed in their programmes and in their professional careers is widely recognised. Many undergraduate engineering programmes include a variety of activities such as team projects and other collaborative activities to help students learn from each other. A number of researchers have worked on developing suitable technologies, such as specialised wikis, to support collaborative learning. Most of these tools are designed to be general-purpose, rather than being focused on specific items of knowledge. Along a different line, the approach of learning objects has focused on knowledge-related issues, ignoring collaborative-learning aspects. The goal of the work reported in this paper is to present an innovative model of learning objects that, while retaining the focus of a given learning object on a specific knowledge item, integrates collaborative learning into it. As we will see, the approach enables the instructor to scaffold the students' collaborative learning efforts in such a way that it is tailored to the particular knowledge item. Moreover, the approach also enables, in a natural manner, the students to reflect on their collaborative activities during later review.

Keywords: learning objects; collaborative learning; cooperative learning; reflective learning; peer instruction; engineering education; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCE.2014.063353

International Journal of Collaborative Engineering, 2014 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.353 - 370

Accepted: 20 Aug 2013
Published online: 29 Jul 2014 *

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