During the previous lesson on knowledge building you were exposed to the idea of collaboration and its role in a social type of knowledge building. It would have become clear that collaboration is more than just team work. Collaboration has a value in innovative teaching and learning that connects people with ideas.

It should also be apparent by now that problem-solving in real-world contexts is one of the key elements of 21st century education and engaged learning. It is also the kind of activity that is very likely to engage students in critical thinking and knowledge building. These are all inter-related elements of innovative approaches to learning.

In this lesson we explore the value of real-world collaboration and the technologies that can facilitate the processes of collaboration.

Note: We will define collaboration as “working together on a common goal for mutual benefit”. Accordingly, sending out a poll and asking people to respond is a request for communication, rather than a form of collaboration. The respondents have co-operated with you.

Learning objectives:

• Describe a typically innovative learning activity;
• Identify opportunities and challenges for using appropriate technologies to enhance innovation in learning activities.