INVESTIGATING GROUP WORK ONLINE THROUGH THEORY OF CONNECTIVISM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v6i5.853Keywords:
connectivism theory, autonomy, openness, connectedness and diversity, online group workAbstract
The well-established pedagogy, group work is a key component of teaching and learning as it offers a wide range of benefits to learners across all education levels. In fact, advancements in digital technology today have simplified the incorporation of online group work in academic environments. However, the growing application of online group activities in higher education is not without any issues. While it offers endless possibilities of a more effective learning experience, challenges in incorporating online group works are inevitable. Moreover, limited empirical research has examined online group collaboration through the lens of connectivism. Hence, the current study aims to explore online group work using connectivism theory. A quantitative survey was shared online to 180 students at a public university. The survey consists of 4 sections; Section A on demographic profile, Section B on online teaching presence, Section C on cognitive presence, and Section D on social presence. The findings of the study revealed that in line with connectivism theory, autonomy, openness and connectedness and diversity show strong intercorrelations in online group work approaches. Based on the findings, this framework can be a guideline for a thoughtful instructional design. Thus, the study suggests educators design purposeful online group work experiences using the principles of teaching presence, cognitive presence and social presence that can enhance group work practices in digital environments.
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Copyright (c) 2025 SHABINA KUMARI SUBRAMANIAM, NUR ASHIQUIN C ALIH, NABILA EIZATI KOMARUDIN, SITI SYAIRAH FAKHRUDDIN, NOOR HANIM RAHMAT
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