Discuss how your role as a consumer, producer and sharer of online sources of information has developed during the unit and provide examples to demonstrate.
Role of the online world in the development of knowledge and skills.
You have described how your knowledge and skills as a learner in the online world developed drawing on 21st Century skills
450 words

Enrolling in the learning and communication online unit this semester I ha
Consume information. You'll need to research online by visiting sources such as websites and the online library, with information in text, audio and video formats. You'll be reading, listening and watching.

Produce information. You'll need to write, record and create information. You'll do this using a range of tools, such as document formatting tools, collaborative platforms, and perhaps sound and video recording.

Share information. You'll need to put your ideas and information out there. You'll do this on the discussion board with your learning group, and on publishing platforms.

Discuss how the development of an informational resource, or your work in the discussion board, has helped you understand how to evaluate the credibility of online sources in an academic environment.
Evaluating the credibility of online sources.
You have clearly discussed how the development of an informational resource or your work in the discussion board has informed your understanding of how to evaluate the credibility of online sources in an academic environment.
450 words

According to the Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework (Bundy 2004), information-literate people: recognise a need for information determine the extent of information needed access information efficiently critically evaluate information and its sources classify, store, manipulate and redraft information collected or generated incorporate selected information into their knowledge base use information effectively to learn, create new knowledge, solve problems and make decisions.

Identify some of the advantages and limitations of working collaboratively in an online community and reflect on how you might exploit advantages and overcome the limitations.
Identifying advantages and limitations of working collaboratively online
You have clearly identified the advantages and limitations of working collaboratively online. You have reflected on how to exploit the advantages and overcome the limitations
450 words

For instance, Stodel, Thompson, and MacDonald (2006) identified five themes regarding what learners perceived were missing from their online learning experience, namely, robustness of online dialogue, spontaneity and improvisation, perceiving and being perceived by the other, 84 Chiong & Jovanovic getting to know others, and learning to be an online learner.

Finegold & Cooke (2006) found that group members not participating in group discussions and not contributing equally towards the completion of group tasks were the most prominent concerns experienced by students, whereas active participation was regarded as the most important factor influencing the success of online groups. Similar findings have been reported in earlier related studies (e.g., see Vonderwell, 2003). Gabriel (2004) found that one of the major challenges experienced by her students was the time required to prepare their responses to other group members. For some students, the imposed work schedules posed a problem too, particularly during small virtual group activities (Gabriel, 2004). Finegold & Cooke (2006) found that for many students, important success factors of online group work included an atmosphere of trust and respect, shared objectives, and being supportive to other group members. In addition, group working skills, such as decision making, consensus building, and dealing with conflict, were strongly favoured by many students. Again, these findings were consistent with findings reported in earlier work (e.g., Gabriel, 2004; Palloff & Pratt, 2001). http://www.jite.org/documents/Vol11/JITEv11p081-101Chiong1104.pdf Group work. Students groan when they find out there’s a group assignment that’s part of the grading for a given class [ I’m no exception]. Students learning online don’t feel much different, and given the time and distance barriers, it presents even more challenges for these students. What is it about group work that is so distasteful? Many students cite lack of cooperation, work equity and dependency on others as major factors in disliking team work with classmates. Ironically, this is precisely why group work is essential for learning.

The future IS Collaboration
Collaboration goes beyond, two or more people working together towards a common goal – in today’s terms, collaboration is about open, learning, relationships, sharing and innovation. Though there are numerous benefits to groups working together in an online learning community, below I’ve highlighted the three most important reasons (I think) why group work is essential to any e-learning environment.
Benefits of collaborative learning
Collaborative learning activities create opportunities for students to:
Engage in subject specific discussions with peers
Learn how to work cooperatively and support each other
Develop effective teamwork and communication (including interpersonal and cross cultural awareness) skills
Assimilate multiple views to deepen knowledge and promote critical thinking
Foster individual accountability to the team
Develop independent learning strategies
Structure out-of-class learning
Mitigate learner isolation
Online collaboration brings additional benefits of flexibility, managing student participation and behaviour, trackability and student autonomy.