Exploring Physical Therapy Student Perceptions of Collaborative Learning in Synchronous Online Settings

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify students’ perceptions of the learning process and practice when they participated in online collaborative learning. [Participants and Methods] Eighteen second-year physical therapy students participated in this study. They participated in an online, case-based collaborative learning class designed for this study. Focus groups were conducted after the educational interventions, and qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. [Results] Six themes were extracted from the analysis. [Conclusion] Three themes were related to the learning that can be achieved in collaborative learning, while the other three themes presented considerations for effective online collaborative learning. Online collaborative learning is suggested to be an effective learning method with consideration and preparation according to the characteristics of the students.