Online Classes Get a Missing Piece: Teamwork - Marguerite McNeal, EdSurge

Most online courses are a solitary experience for learners. Students lack the ability to strike up an impromptu conversation about last week’s homework or compare notes with whoever’s sitting next to them in class. The lack of social interaction could be one reason behind high dropout rates in online classes. Several California community colleges are hopeful that adding a way for learners to interact with each other in online classes will help them complete their coursework. This fall, students taking introductory statistics courses at six colleges will pilot using a tool to complete lab exercises in teams, working in sync with partners who are miles away. https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-09-28-online-classes-get-a-missing-piece-teamwork