What Makes Good Blended Collaborative Learning: A Case Study

Abstract

Blended learning has become normalized in universities due to the pandemic. However, the design and implementation of blended collaborative learning still faces challenges. Through a case study based on a blended course in an elite university in China, this paper provides a nuanced understanding of what makes good blended collaborative learning. Firstly, the critical elements of blended collaborative learning are illustrated. The manuscript then details the entire process of a blended collaborative learning case study: (a) initiation, how to team up with strangers; (b) ongoing, how these groups evolved in blended collaborative learning; and (c) summing up, how effective blended collaborative learning was. Finally, several principles for designing collaborative tasks, organizational structures, evaluations, and supporting tools are discussed from the perspective of the four elements of blended collaborative learning.