MAIKT-DCL Distributed Collaborative Learning Course description

Through work with the literature and the tasks, the student should learn to initiate and tutor collaborative learning processes for young and adult students. The tuition is in English if English speaking students attend the course.

No prerequisites required.

A student who has completed his or her qualification has the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has advanced knowledge of concepts, components or frameworks deriving from central theories, paradigms and approaches within the field of distributed collaborative learning
• has thorough knowledge of the interrelationships between education and ICT development processes and their manifestations in international and national practices

Skills

The student

• can analyse specific issues that are pertinent to development and change of online teaching environments in their societal contexts in primary, lower secondary and upper secondary education
• can analyse and deal critically with various sources of information from the field of distributed collaborative learning and apply them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments.
• can analyse existing theories and methods in the field of distributed collaborative learning and work independently on practical and theoretical problems.
• can carry out an independent limited research or development project within the field of distributed collaborative learning under supervision and in accordance with applicable norms for research ethics.

General competence

The student

• can apply his/her competence and skills in the field of distributed collaborative learning in order to carry out advanced assignments and projects.
• can communicate and discuss research-based knowledge in the field of distributed collaborative learning with professionals and non-professionals
• can contribute in critical ways to the development of the field of distributed collaborative learning

The following are sub themes of the course:

• Concepts of collaboration
• Modes of collaboration
• DCL (Distributed Collaborative Learning)
• Technologies for collaboration

In line with the course topic, the course is totally net based, and the work methods are highly collaborative. Active participation from all students is a necessity. The course requirements will ensure that the student acquires sufficient practical skills in using tools for collaboration as well as theoretical knowledge. It will also give the students a continuous workload during the semester.

The students are supposed to read the course literature on their own.

There are eight course work requirements, requiring different tools and levels of collaboration. The estimated workload for each requirement is approximately 2-4 hours. The course requirements must be approved before students call for examination.

Home exam: the students must write an individual report (2000-4000 words) on their performance of the activities carried out during the semester. This report, containing description and analysis of experiences, based on the course literature, will be the basis of the final assessment. 

New or postponed exam will be organised in the same way as the ordinary exam. A revised report can be submitted.

Examination support material is permitted.

A graded scale from A to E for passed and F for not passed will be used. See assessment criteria in the programme plan.

The report will be evaluated by an internal and external examiner.