Fuzzy enhancement of creativity in collaborative online learning

Abstract

The collaborative online learning is an online learning situation in which more participants organized in small groups collaborate to solve a problem. Finding methods to facilitate creativity in this kind of learning situations is challenging. The problems that arise in creating of genuine online creative collaborative learning environments are numerous: constitution of the online creative learners' groups, organization of the online learning process, adoption of the appropriate instructional strategies, defining the "creativity triggers" that have to be included in the online learning situations. All these challenges are taken into consideration in this paper, and a collaborative learning model based on the fuzzy theory is proposed. This model can be integrated in online learning environments to increase both learners' creativity and their complex development. The results presented here are obtained through questioning our university staff related to the creativity issues in the instructional process, followed by simulation. Also, the necessity of a systemic approach of the online learning process aiming to achieve the objectives of the instructional process is emphasized. © 2014 Springer-Verlag.