Title Details

Keith Pratt is adjunct faculty at the Fielding Graduate Institute and at Baker University. Palloff and Pratt are managing partners of Crossroads Consulting Group. They are the authors of Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace, Lessons from the Cyberspace Classroom, and The Virtual Student all from Jossey-Bass.

About the Authors.

PART ONE:Collaboration Online.

1.Collaboration in the Online Environment.

Collaboration—The Hallmark of Constructivism.

Why Collaborate Online?

Collaboration Online.

Working with Virtual Teams.

Virtual Team Dynamics.

Summary Points to Remember on Collaboration Basics.

2.The Process of Online Collaboration.

The Stages of Collaboration.

Tools for Collaboration.

Summary Points to Remember on the Process of Online Collaboration.

3.Collaboration Challenges.

Things That Go Bump in the Night.

Participation Challenges.

Challenges in Leadership and Decision Making.

Course and Activity Design Challenges.

The Challenge of Cultural Differences.

Final Thoughts on Challenges to Collaboration Online.

Summary Points to Remember on Collaboration Challenges.

4.Assessment and Evaluation of Collaborative Work.

Learner-Centered Assessment, Including Self-Assessment.

Rubrics and Expectations.

Collaborative Assessment.

Guidelines for Feedback.

Assessment that Aligns with Context and Learning Objectives.

Assessments That Are Clear and Easy to Understand.

Assessments Designed with Student Input.

The Empowered Learner.

Summary Points to Remember on Assessment and Evaluation of Collaborative Work.

PART TWO:Collaborative Activities.

1. Role Playing.

2. Simulations.

3. Case Studies.

4. Questioning Techniques for Collaborative Discussions.

5. Dyads.

6. Small-Group Projects.

7. Jigsaw Activities.

8. Blogs.

9. Virtual Teams.

10. Debates.

11. Fishbowls.

12. Learning Cycles.

13. WebQuests.

Final Thoughts on Collaborative Activities.

Summary Points to Remember on Collaborative Activities.

Additional Resources.

References.

Index.

“This book was an aha! experience for me. After all these years, I finally gained a blueprint for assessing collaborative learning effectively and fairly. I also kept nodding in agreement as I read the book: Palloff and Pratt present numerous practical examples of what an online classroom should be like.”
--Karen Hodges, vice president for learning, NorthWest Arkansas Community College

“Palloff and Pratt, the distinguished online learning authorities, have done it again with their latest book, Collaborating Online. This is must-reading for all faculty, instructional designers, and academic administrators interested in improving student retention and success in online courses.”
--Jack A. Chambers, director, program development for instructional technology, Florida Community College at Jacksonville