The effects of online collaboration on student development of higher order thinking skills

Abstract

In this investigation online collaboration was used to see if improvement occurred in students' development of higher order thinking skills. Weekly scientific or environmental problems or discoveries were posted on a blog and students were asked to collaborate in groups to devise solutions on a wiki page. Discussion posts, student surveys and student interviews were analyzed to see the change in higher order thinking skill development. Results revealed online discussions encouraged the development of higher order thinking skills. When given the opportunity and time, students' examining others' comments encouraged the practice and development of thinking skills of analyzing and evaluating.