ICT for Meaningful Learning

As what Razali has mentioned, in the process of contributing information into Mindmeister Cyberwellness map in class, we 'Goggled' the net for more ideas. I feel that this is one example under the influence of ICT where students are motivated to search and read up on a particular subject. Furthermore, students are able to assess independently if the information provided on the net is authentic and reliable. This tool fulfills both the SDL and CL aspect of learning progress.

1) Self-Directed Learning:
A learning process where the learner is motivated and able to formulate his or her own learning goals. He or she is capable of identifying the right human and material resources that helps in his or her learning. The learner understands and uses the appropriate strategies and finally, reflects on what he or she has learned at the end of the day and changes accordingly from his or her own mistakes.

2) Cooperative Learning
The learning task will be divided among the learners and different parts will be combined at the end of the project. Learners may or may not interact with their group member in the course of completing the project.
For example, a class project to survey the public's opinion based on the theme of 'National Education' will be fragmented and task will be delegated to the designated group members. There will be someone to conduct the survey, a person to compile the survey results, another person to write the report and someone to do research on 'National education'. These components of the project will then be re-assembled and finalized as a whole.

3) Collaborative Learning
Learners show considerable amount of interaction with each other throughout the whole learning process. During the time of interaction between group members, they exchange knowledge and information concerning the learning task. They also establish common learning goals and work towards them by constantly expressing their thoughts and opinions, observing how the others think and learn and teaching each other reciprocally. Collaborative learning also requires the learners to constantly assess each other's ideas with the appropriate evidence or supporting theories. Furthermore, they will be able to negotiate in a mature manner to resolve any conflicting views.

In my opinion, the size or number of the group is not one of the aspects to gauge the difference between cooperative learning and collaborative learning.

Cooperative learning and collaborative learning are vastly different in terms of their advantages/disadvantages and their working style. I feel that cooperative learning concentrates on the completion of the task while collaborative learning focus on the process of the task, which allows learners to achieve more. In another words, Cooperative learning is 'Self-directed learning in a group' whereas collaborative learning defines 'group learning together'.

Although it is apparently beneficial for teachers to aim for Self-directed learning and Collaborative learning in their lessons, I have some doubts about applying them in local secondary schools.
As I've mentioned earlier, Cooperative learning divides the task and workload is equally shared.

How do we ensure that every student of the group is contributing to the learning task when we are encouraging Collaborative learning?