Hanipah Hussin

Factors Affecting the Effective Online Collaborative Learning Environment

Interest in collaboration is a natural outgrowth of the trend in education towards active learning. Many researchers have found advantages of collaborative learning; it improves academic performance, promotes soft skills development (communication, collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking skills) and increases satisfaction in the learning experience. However, several studies have reported the opposite. Therefore, this paper aims to determine the factors to be considered in creating an effective online collaborative learning environment. In order to achieve the aims, this study was conducted qualitatively in the form of a document review. The results indicate three main factors that affect the effectiveness of online collaborative learning environments such as learning environment, learning design and learning interaction. An online learning interaction model is also proposed according to the results. This study will continue to determine the elements that can clarify all the factors which have been identified in this study.

The need of incorporating Cidos with Facebook to facilitate online collaborative learning

Getting a job after completing college is always a challenge for students; even though they acquired an excellent academic skill. Therefore, the role f Higher Education Institutions is to provide training to the students with the soft skills in accordance with the demands of the job. Collaborative learning has been well known in the educational arena with proven results in terms of developing soft skills. This study aims to explore the need of incorporating Moodle with Social Network Sites to facilitate online collaborative learning. In order to obtain data for this preliminary study, two sets of questionnaire were personally distributed to 356 diploma students and 145 lecturers from Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, Politeknik Merlimau, Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, Politeknik Kota Kinabalu and Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah. All collected data had been analyzed using SPPS 19 software and the results of the study showed lecturers have to apply certain instrument to record and monitor students discussion and to asses student contribution from the discussion. But most lecturers and students tend to access their Social Network Sites account daily compares to CIDOS. Incorporating CIDOS with Facebook to support online collaborative learning as recommendations for future research is suggested.