Abstract:

Successful collaborative learning requires collaborative tools. This case study focuses on international students' collaborative learning experiment case in Savonia University of Applied Sciences in Finland. The research problem is to empower higher education collaborative learning with cloud-based graphic design tools.

In data collection, we utilized multiple sources of evidence. The pedagogical experiment takes place in students' practical project work in the Digital communication project course in the Spring of 2022, where data was collected. The group in Savonia consisted of international Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree students and exchange students, mainly from Europe. The preliminary communication and design skills varied. The course had 30 students. The primary study goal was to gather practical communication, design, and collaborative skills.

First stage students get essential communication and graphic design skills during theory lessons. Then we divided the group into six (6) project teams where we applied a collaborative learning approach. In the project work, students designed yearbook publication content with cloud-based graphic design software Canva. Each team worked on a different topic which they decided in the brainstorming session. Students presented the publication in the final publication seminar. Students also wrote a written report for peer feedback.

We analyzed input with thematic analysis to determine which factors promoted and hindered collaboration in the project. Observations during the process were beneficial to tackle shared document collaborative processing challenges. In addition, the findings could help implement collaborative learning with collaborative design tools. As a result, students had positive interdependence to design school yearbook content.

Keywords:

Collaborative learning, student project collaboration, case study, thematic analysis, pedagogical experiment, Canva, graphic design.