Abstract:

Now that the Technical Digital Divide has been overcome, i.e., access to technology, we are currently faced with the Methodological Digital Divide, which reflects the difficulty of integrating ICTs into teaching and learning processes. The greatest challenge is to manage to develop competencies of interaction among students via the use of technology in order to achieve significant improvements in learning. The methodology of work or collaborative learning is the most appropriate for working with ICTs in the classroom, but it poses huge challenges for which different limitations must be overcome. In the present work we describe a case study that forms part of an ambitious research project called ACOTIC (Spanish acronym of Aprendizaje Colaborativo a través de las TIC: Collaborative leaning via ICTs), whose general aim is to observe the collaborative learning strategies applied by teachers in the classroom via ICTs in the context of the Regional Community of Castile & Leon.

By means of the study of a collaborative project using ICTs that has been developed at the Miguel Delibes school in Macotera, we have observed the problems and limitations involved in integrating ICTs into collaborative learning processes, The main difficulties found by the students appeared at the start of the project and were linked to decision-making and reaching consensus. According to the teaching staff, these skills have evolved during the course of the collaborative project and have slowly emerged as positive competencies in autonomy, together with increased interest and motivation. Moreover, the students have felt especially motivated by research activities and they find collaborative work very attractive since they are able to work with friends. It is interesting to note that the use of ICTs is not an especially conclusive motivating reason for working in collaboration with others, although the teaching staff report that ICTs are essential tools for doing so.

Keywords:

Collaborative learning, project, difficulties, ICTs, integration, ACOTIC.