Network Collaborative Learning means to work and learn with/from other people. It is a massive opportunity to amplify our perspectives of a goal, through different points of view (each person), and in this way, achieving better solutions/results.

To have a successful networked learning two actions are necessary: collaboration and cooperation.

I must confess that I used to think they were synonymous. And if you, my dearest reader, also think like me, know that we are both wrong.

According to Cambridge dictionary, cooperation is work together with other people. Collaboration is work together with other people for a special purpose. I know, they seem similar, but they are not the same. What make them unlike is the “special purpose”; in other words, everybody is working together with the same goal and willing to work together. Collaboration means discuss, change thoughts, understand, agree, disagree, compromise and in the end, achieve an aim in cooperation. John Spencer published a very clear short video about collaboration and cooperation definitions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr5mAboH1Kk

Another interesting approach about collaboration x cooperation is from a Huffpost site, where collaboration is defined as synchronous share of activity, and cooperation is a division of tasks among individuals.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/collaboration-vs-cooperat_b_10324418

Based in these late definitions, let’s dig into Topic 3. During this topic, my PBL group took very seriously the network collaborative aspect of the task. We decided to do an infographic about the subject using Canva as our tool. We were able to have nice discussion about the theme and developed the whole document during our meetings, together. The outcome was very interesting. Also, the feeling of mission accomplished successfully, since we are talking about group efforts.

At the same time, during my classes, my students received an assignment to work collaboratively. They were split in 4 groups and had to discuss about the same theme, but in different areas of knowledge. So, the first thing they should have done was talk to each other and decide how to develop the subject, and then, each group would be able to do their part. They struggled to initiate the work, because they had difficulty to talk to each other.

At this point, aware of the collaborative and cooperative definitions, I compared what my PBL group and my students have done and visualize the concept of collaboration in the first one, and cooperation in the last one. Thinking about that, I guess we have been taught that work in groups is split the task in as many parts as necessary according to the number of people, then everyone execute their part, and in the end, put the “Frankenstein” together.

This led me to trace a parallel with the article Are Online Learners Frustrated with Collaborative Learning Experiences? From Capdeferro and Romero (2012)*. Here, the authors highlighted the frustration of online learners in collaborative methods, despite its pedagogical advances. So, I wonder if, although in a face to face mode, the asymmetric collaboration, level of commitment and perceived lack of the same goals (even though theoretically, once they have the same aim) are main obstacles to cooperate instead of collaborating. And most important, how to overcome these. But, for this, I have to reflect deeper in the matter…

Summarizing, I think we need to learn how to find the marshmallow in our day by day challenges. No dear reader, I am not delusional. The marshmallow challenge consists in build the tallest structure made of spaghetti, tape and line with a marshmallow on the top (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BExiT0JFGg). The main goal is not put the marshmallow on top, but see how a group can work together. In this challenge, a group of kindergartens had better marks than a group of CEOs. This is because kids do things and do it together. Becomes clear how collaboration and action contribute to accomplish a common objective.

So, let’s talk, let’s change experiences, let’s find our common marshmallow and then, let’s collaborate!

See you in the next post!

* Capdeferro, N. & Romero, M. (2012). Are online learners frustrated with collaborative learning experiences?. The International review of research in open and distance learning, 13(2), 26-44.