Learning in communities is widely applicable in modern teaching and learning context. In the contemporary academic world networked community learning is vastly applicable across the globe. In this scenario students are networked through a virtual platform to achieve a common task. Community Learning in any context is a complex process with the involvement of different cognitive skills and the mixture of quite obvious contradictory thoughts. In the non-traditional teaching world, networked collaborative works are widely encouraged. This can happen within a certain course or within departments or within several universities. Any mode of collaborative learning involves debating ideas, solving problems , developing concepts and performing tasks. NCL will only be successful when all the participants are actively engaging in the given task. For NCL , digital literacy is an added value.
Technology and digital infrastructure affects the social nature of learning. It is undoubtedly true that students in one group might have different digital capabilities. Computers, laptops and digital devices have become the mode of communication in networked collaborative learning. Effective collaboration, timely communication, peer feedback are the driving sources of better collaborative learning.
Collaborative learning facilitates
- Social presence , connection and interaction among learners
- Deeper learning
- Critical thinking skills
- Increased possibilities for transformative skills
- Exposure to different learning styles
- Reflective learning – reflection on action
The level of contribution might not be equivalent from one to another. That is common in any group and this scenario is not only appeared in networked collaborative learning but also in traditional face to face mode. In the other hand , distance learning, online collaboration, networking could motivates students than traditional face to face learning. Specially in the current context , due to COVID 19 we all are experiencing , online learning and collaboration and it has broaden up the teaching spectrum with the support of digital tools. Learning in an online platforms demands more digital literacy than the general practice. Using appropriate teaching and learning platforms, getting the institutional support in creating the access, guidance on use of appropriate tools for communication is undoubtedly needed in empowering collaborative networked learning.
