Collaborative management education: an online community in Europe?

This paper explains the relevance of recent research projects to the work of the 'European Enhancement of Early Years Management Skills' project. The research explores and compares students' perspectives and experiences of face-to-face and online collaborative learning using a Problem Based Learning approach in undergraduate Management Education for Early Years Education and Care Managers. The first research collected data on perceptions of learning outcomes achieved and reflective individual evaluations at key assessment points via questionnaire, on students' views of the nature and delivery of the course through focus group discussions, on grades attained and on tutor reflections. While no differences were found in grades achieved or in self-reported attainment of course outcomes, collaborative learning was perceived more favourably by online learners than face-to-face learners and these online learners demonstrated a more rapid development of academic literacy. The follow-up research study confirmed the findings that the online students valued collaborative group work significantly higher than the face-to-face students.