A Lecturer’s Perception of Blackboard Support for Collaborative Learning

Collaborative Learning is a requirement of many twenty-first century jobs. The ability to produce quality products or new knowledge is not viewed as an individual endeavor but rather a collaborative learning effort. This paper uses the Reflective Practice Cycle framework to analyze collaborative learning for an honors research project using Blackboard. The research delved into the reflections of a lecturer prior to and post supervising a Collaborative Learning Honors research project. The research also highlighted how Blackboard supports Collaborative Learning. This paper highlights some of the benefits of Collaborative Learning as creating a socially supportive environment, diversity and conflict resolution, critical thinking and defending positions, active listening and oral communication, deep learning and self-management. This paper also demonstrates that Blackboard supports four elements of Collaborative Learning being clearly perceived positive interdependence, considerable interaction, social skills and group self-evaluating.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Business Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

   Komla Pillay

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Komla Pillay .

Editors and Affiliations

1. National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan

   Yueh-Min Huang

2. University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Villa Real, Portugal

   Tânia Rocha

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