Collaborative learning refers to the method of learning where based on interaction and sharing based on such interaction, difference in understanding are brought together and errors are corrected (Alavi, Wheeler & Valacich, 1995). In relation to this ...
Collaborative learning refers to the method of learning where based on interaction and sharing based on such interaction, difference in understanding are brought together and errors are corrected (Alavi, Wheeler & Valacich, 1995). In relation to this adaptation or process of coordination, Jackson, Mackenzie, and Hobfoll (2000) noted that the more collaborative an organization is, the more tendency the members of the organization have in setting goals according to the criteria acceptable within the social network. This can be interpreted as individuals undergoing the process of coordination and conversion using the group as reference in a collaborative situation.
One of the concepts that signify the process of transfer during a collaborative learning is co-regulation. The concept of co-regulation can be described as the transitional process that converts the context of self-regulation from individual to collective level, and that refines self-regulation through interaction. Similar concepts include socially shared regulation, social regulation and team regulation, and these terms are interchangeable among each other. As such, many researchers are attempting to compile these terms and the concepts of regulation expressed in a social context. Rogat & Linnenbrink -Garcia (2011), for example, explains that within a social context socially shared regulation occurs based on sharing and coordination between social members, and it can be categorized into co-regulation and social-regulation. Here, co-regulation refers to the concept used to explain how an individual’s self-regulation evolves and becomes more elaborate during the process of interaction with others. It is defined as the transitional process of an individual’s self-regulation skills to fit the collective context. On the other hand, social regulation refers to the concept that interested in the process of co- constructing goals, standards and shared cognition. It is defined as a regulation process based on sharing goals and learning process for collaboration.
Studies on regulation within a social context show that most of them conducted social regulation in units of groups (Saab, 2012; Volet, Summers & Thurman, 2009). However, before looking at the regulation process of groups, it is important to investigate, from the perspective of co-regulation, how individuals within a group perceive the team’s regulation activities and how such perceptions affect the process of collaborative learning. In particular, co-regulation is meaningful in that it contributes to improved self-regulation skills of an individual, in addition to contributing to learning achievement. Numerous studies have noted that the effect of control expressed in the collaborative process is closely related to an individual self-regulation, and also that co-regulation can help improve the level of self-regulation (Hadwin & Oshige, 2011; Lee, 2012; Volet, Summers & Thurman, 2009). As such, this study seeks to verify whether the level of self-regulation in a learner can predict the level of co-regulation.
Self-regulation is one of the leading cognitive characteristics that signify a proactive process of establishing learning objectives, then reviewing, controlling and adjusting the learning processes in order to reach the objectives (Pintrich, 2000). However, according to Webb & Palincsar (1996), Johnson & Johnson (1999), not only cognitive, but also definitive characteristics such as homogeneity and intimacy within a team can influence the learning process and achievement. Therefore, successful learning requires consideration of definitive factors, such as the learner’s motivation and attitude. In collaborative learning, the attitude of a member towards the shared group’s task can affect the results of learning. One of the things that show the attitude of an individual learner towards his team is group cohesiveness. Group cohesiveness is defined as a sense of belonging or attraction felt by the individual learner towards his team (Carron, Brawley & Widmeyer, 1985). Preceding studies have shown that it has a major effect on the team’s atmosphere and achievement in collaborative activities (Leonard & Swap, 1999; Woodman et al, 1993). Moreover, studies by Volet et al. (2009) suggested that the learner’s attitude towards his team can affect co-regulation, indicating the need to investigate the relationship with co-regulation. Group cohesiveness can be categorized into social cohesiveness and task cohesiveness, depending on the cause of cohesiveness (Zaccaro, 1991). Researchers such as Zaccaro & Lowe (1988) mentioned that social cohesiveness and task cohesiveness are not only conceptually distinguished from each other but are also applied differently to the learning process. As such, in this study as well, social cohesiveness and task cohesiveness are regarded as distinguished concepts.
As preceding studies have raised interest in collaborative learning, more discussions have been taking place on the factors that may affect collaboration. As such, this study seeks to investigate co-regulation as a factor associated with collaborative learning. Since many studies have consistently noted that self-regulation in learning and task cohesiveness within a group activity significantly predicts the degree of achievements, this study will also verify whether these factors can predict co-regulation. Furthermore, by looking at whether such relationship exists, this study will explain the role of co-regulation, and implications for the relationship between successful collaborative learning and co-regulation.
Research questions are as follows:
1. Do self-regulation, social cohesiveness and task cohesiveness predict co-regulation in collaborative learning?
2. Do co-regulation, self-regulation, social cohesiveness and task cohesiveness predict achievement in collaborative learning?
3. Does co-regulation mediates the relationship between self- regulation social cohesiveness, task cohesiveness and satisfaction in a collaborative learning?
3-1. Does co-regulation mediates between self-regulation and satisfaction in a collaborative learning?
3-2. Does co-regulation mediates between social cohesiveness and satisfaction in a collaborative learning?
3-3. Does co-regulation mediates between task cohesiveness and satisfaction in a collaborative learning?
To answer the research questions, data are taken from 62 undergraduate students who are taking ‘Educational Theory’ and ‘Research Methodology for Textbooks in Educational Studies’ courses at A Women’s University in Seoul. All of the subjects were female university students in year 2 or higher, majoring in Educational Technology. The teams for collaborative learning were each assigned 3-5 people. For the collaborative learning project, a task to develop a class teaching plan was given to each team. This project was conducted for four weeks outside of class without the intervention of the instructor. After collaborative learning ended, a self-reporting style questionnaire was used to measure the level of co-regulation, group cohesiveness and perceived achievement. The collected data was analyzed for technical statistics and correlation. Multiple regression analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted.
The study findings were as follows.
First, in order to verify whether self-regulation as a cognitive trait and task cohesiveness as the attitude towards the team predicts co-regulation, a multiple regression analysis using the stepwise method was implemented. The result was that task cohesiveness and self-regulation, with the exception of social cohesiveness, significantly predicted co-regulation. This indicates that task cohesiveness and self-regulation have a positive effect on not only the learning results, but also on the collaborative process. Meanwhile, social cohesiveness was excluded from the multiple regression model on co-regulation, because the causes of social and task cohesiveness are different. That is, rather than the emotional characteristics formed through the relationships between members, the cognitive characteristics expressed through the collaborative task or process better explained co-regulation.
Second, in order to verify whether co-regulation, self-regulation and group cohesiveness can significantly predict the level achievement, a multiple regression analysis using the stepwise method was implemented. The result was that only co-regulation was identified as a significant variable that predicts achievement. If co-regulation is seen as a process of coordinating and making more sophisticated one’s cognition and meta-cognitive skills within the process of interaction and sharing, we can see that the ‘process of sophistication that occurs within interaction’ reflects the principles of collaborative learning, which is the correction of errors through sharing. Such common traits between co-regulation and collaborative learning principles can be seen to have influenced the relation between co-regulation and the level of achievement. Given that co-regulation and self-regulation, which share the traits of cognitive and meta-cognitive skills that control and adjust learning objectives and processes, are excluded, this possibility is even more likely. The difference between co-regulation and self-regulation can be found within the context of adjustment. If self-regulation within an individual cannot significantly predict the achievement level in a multiple regression model, then it can be said that the social traits of co-regulation must have contributed to the relation with the level of achievement.
Third, in order to verify whether there is a mediating effect of co-regulation in the relationship between self-regulation of the learner’s achievement and group cohesiveness, mediating effect verification was conducted using the procedures suggested by Judd & Kenny (1981). The result was that co-regulation completely mediated the relationship between self-regulation and achievement, between social cohesiveness and achievement and between ask cohesiveness and achievement. In the first stage of mediation verification, a multiple regression analysis confirmed a significant relation between each variable. However, a hierarchical regression analysis showed that there was no statistical significance between the self-regulation, social cohesiveness, task cohesiveness and achievement. This shows that co-regulation completely mediates these relationships. That is, in collaborative learning, self-regulation, social cohesiveness and task cohesiveness predict achievement only through co-regulation.
Based on the above analysis, we can conclude that in collaborative learning, adjustment is not only limited to the planning and monitoring of the learning process by the individual, but can also occur through the co-constructing joint goals and plans, by each member understanding his role, by adjusting and controlling the implementation process, and by using a strategy that fits the context of the team. Moreover, as for group cohesiveness, as Zaccaro & Lowe (1988) noted, it was verified that group cohesiveness affects the learning process and can lead to successful results. From the findings that in a collaborative learning situation, self-regulation, social cohesiveness and task cohesiveness can predict achievement only through co- regulation, we can conclude that in order to enable successful collaborative learning, we must understand co-regulation and thus design the process of collaborative learning based on this understanding.
The limitations of this study are as follows.
First, the questionnaire was conducted on students enrolled in a class for those majoring in educational engineering at A Women’s University in Seoul. Therefore, the subjects were all female and had similar backgrounds in terms of age, major and experience in collaborative learning. As such, in order to generalize the findings of this study, a follow-up study using subjects with more varied backgrounds would be needed to verify whether there are any differences across gender, age or background.
Second, this study was conducted on students enrolled in two different courses. The subjects were all female, in their second year or higher and had a major or minor in educational engineering. Therefore, they had similar backgrounds in terms of their knowledge and experience in collaborative learning. In terms of implementing collaborative tasks, their team size and implementation period were also same. The fact that the project was carried out outside of class without the intervention of an instructor also added to the similar conditions. However, the two courses were taught by two different instructors. The class on educational theory focused on the theoretical understanding of educational studies, while the course on methodology and textbook materials for educational studies focused on the practice of such theories. As such, whether the course objective and orientation may have affected the results needs verification.
Third, in order to measure the perception of learners on their collaborative learning experience, a self-reporting style questionnaire was used to measure all variables including achievement. As such, the relationship between perceived achievement and actual achievement needs to be verified.
This study demonstrated how co-regulation, which has only been conceptually discussed, works in collaborative learning. The findings suggest that co-regulation is an important variable that predicts the outcomes of collaborative learning. In order to understand the characteristics of co-regulation in relation to this finding, co-regulation will have to be studied within various learning contexts.