Factors That Influence Learners' Perception of Group Process Within a Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Environment

• In Event: 60.064 - Evidence-Based Technology Integration Scenarios

Abstract

In addition to technical knowledge, today’s healthcare worker must possess interpersonal collaboration skills. In healthcare professional education, the computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) approach is considered one way to enhance students’ collaboration skills. In this study, we investigated factors that could influence students’ perception of their collaboration process. We found that factors such as gender, age and prior group project experience seem to have little impact on perception. However, perception of the group process was influenced by higher competence with learning tools and early collaboration patterns. High competence also influenced beliefs about learning. These findings can potentially assist healthcare educators—these factors can be taken into consideration when designing a course using the CSCL approach.

Authors

• Kyungbin Kwon, Indiana University

• Ying-Hsiu Liu, University of Missouri - Columbia

• LaShaune Johnson, Creighton University