Social and collaborative learning design and technologies

From group work to social media forums, the ways in which humans interact for learning is varied. Learning designers need to understand the dynamics of how these interactions impact learning, and plan appropriately to ensure the best opportunities for success. This unit will explore how and where social and collaborative learning can be best incorporated into learning designs.

Using the lenses of equity and respect, and theories of learning and interaction, this unit provides you with opportunities to design and evaluate social and collaborative learning activities. You will experience the ways in which educational designs can influence the success of group activities and learn about best practices in social and collaborative learning. You will also explore how technologies can be used to support and enhance social and collaborative learning from social media to shared productivity tools.

Building on previous units, the information in this unit is an extension on how humans learn, and the dynamics of understanding and designing for a targeted audience.