DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
The learning effects of collaborative learning in the technology-supported classroom were competitive with those of other two groups. Not only did learning collaboratively in the technology-supported classroom help our participants learn the target words, it also helped them retain the target words. The benefits of vocabulary retention or long-term memory confirmed the findings in previous studies. The feature, different from other studies, was the touchscreen technology that allowed every group member to participate in the English vocabulary review activities. Surrounding their touchscreen desktops, group members were able to clarify and confirm their comprehension and decisions with each other. Reaching a consensus among group members and later receiving positive feedback from the learning systems facilitated their learning and acquisition.
Explanations for the differences among the instructional approaches, however, were necessary. The participants learning individually showed better vocabulary gain than those in the collaborative groups in the immediate posttest. Because vocabulary is individual-inclined learning, it is reasonable that the control group showed a better learning effect when offered individual-inclined exercises and assessed accordingly. For those in collaborative groups, they may be faced with the problem of attention dispersion. As pointed out, team members
tend to exert unequal mental effort on given tasks. One of the reasons can be their different perceptions of roles, leading to debilitating effects derived from social loafing, free-riding, or differential status. Less proficient learners hid themselves once
higher proficient ones took over, especially when tasks were disjunctive and group performance depended on how well the most proficient members did. They abandoned the chances to learn and avoided the responsibility. Being deprived of chances to operate the computer, they acted passively. The fact that passive learners hardly identified themselves with their roles accounted for their lack of devotion. Nevertheless, the insignificant difference of the vocabulary scores between the three groups indicates that those learning collaboratively with computers were not outperformed in vocabulary tests. The treatment of computers and collaboration does not debilitate vocabulary acquisition, even with individual-inclined exercises and assessment. Moreover, learning collaboratively helped learners remember longer and forget less than those learning individually, confirming studies on both collaborative learning and the use of technology.
Behavior patterns emerged in this technology-enhanced collaborative vocabulary learning were supportive for Piagetian and Vygotskyian claims. That is, our participants’ deep-processing English vocabulary was in agreement with either perspective-taking or interaction view of learning. No matter what their proficiency levels are, our participants in the technology-supported classroom would reach a consensus before taking a next move. Such behavior patterns were demonstrated by their toggling between group members and various sources, including texts on the screen, dictionary on the desktop, and answers typed in. Group consensus dominated their learning. Our participants’ exchanges of opinions were highlighted in those initiated by less proficient participants. Because of their inferior knowledge about the English vocabulary, the uncertainty about their comprehension of information on the dictionary and about their answers always led them to reconfirm with group members. The interactions between higher and less proficient participants helped both groups construct and reinforce the target knowledge structure of English vocabulary. Their collaboration before touchscreen desktops exemplifies small group collaboration via computer technology, whose learning effects resulted from perspective-taking and intellectual and social coordination.
Two points of pedagogical implications can be drawn. First, because of dissatisfaction with appointed grouping, students sometimes should be allowed to form homogeneous groups with members of similar achievement levels or characters. Self-selection may reinforce students’ stereotyping and have the effect of polarizing groups. Once they are familiar with group works, they should be aware of positive interdependence, understanding that the success of the whole group depends on each member’s participation and contribution. Second, teaching students their responsibility for each role in a group is essential. Although most students have a positive perception towards collaborative learning,
they often lack the ability to collaborate, their passiveness to deal with communicative problems and uneven participation. A pre-instruction raising students’ awareness of collaborative learning and individual roles periodically may, therefore, help the groups function effectively.
The significance of findings in the present study is partly restricted by limitations of the number of participants, grouping and research design, therefore, suggestions for future research. First, a larger number of participants are suggested to be recruited lest unpredictable student absence during the data collection process should influence the validity of the results. Second, an ideal number of group members in such a learning context should be under three for fear that at least one or two group members are easily left out or marginalized in a group of 4 to 5 peers. Next, there should be one group for participants to learn individually with computers, so that the learning effects and process can be compared between four groups, with a 2x2 design including treatment of computer/no computer and collaboration/no collaboration. As for data collection, a longer period and an examination of a group product are strongly recommended to generate more active collaborative behaviors. Also, the behavior patterns found in the current study should be examined with other variables, such as gender, age, personality, learning styles, or affective factors that may influence learners’ behaviors when learning with peers and technology support. In this way, more effective and fruitful learning activities are likely to be arranged and designed, not only to promote collaboration but facilitate language learning.