Collaborative Learning - Information Communication Technologies for Human Services Education and Delivery - page 51

explored by the authors where the class selected
and tagged web resources in a particular domain.
The class resources were “aggregated” by prede-
termining one tag for all members of the class. We
predict that the future of collaborative learning in
an online environment will be rich in the use of
the agile tools of Web 2.0.
With the introduction of new technologies,
there will be increasing use of participatory peda-
gogical approaches. Fountain (2005) points out
that as Web 2.0 tools such as wikis are used for
collaborative learning activities in universities;
they will in turn unsettle and challenge traditional
pedagogical practices and norms. Wikis are spaces
of shared, unfinished and unacknowledged author-
ship and 'are based on a principle of non-exclusive
authority' (Fountain, 2005). Contrast this to the
traditional power structures around knowledge
and strongly owned authorship that is found in
universities. The future will reveal the interplay
of these issues.

at the undergraduate and graduate level. With
the introduction of newer technologies, it is ex-
pected that participatory strategies will increase
and unsettle the traditional teaching practices in
professional education.

referenceS

Barkley, E. F., Cross, K. P., & Major, C. H. (2005).
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Cooper, L. (2001). Teaching controversial issues
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Curtis, D., & Lawson, M. (2001). Exploring collab-
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concluSion

Collaborative online learning is a successful
strategy for teaching social work. It draws on
constructivist learning principles and findings
from educational researchers at the Centre for
Cooperative Learning at the University of Min-
nesota. These researchers found that collaborative
learning provides effective learning and teaching
strategies that can be used in many different educa-
tional environments. Collaborative learning draws
on group work principles especially concepts of
group formation, stages of group development,
and communication within groups. This form of
learning is particularly beneficial for social work
education in the online environment. The introduc-
tion of web based technologies has allowed this
effective educational strategy to be used in the
online environment with effective results. This
chapter provides examples of how collaborative
learning has been used in social work education

Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education . New
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Fountain, R. (2005). Wiki pedagogy. Dossiers
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Freire, P. (1993). Pedagogy of the oppressed . New
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