Collaborative learning in an online learning environment in Higher Education

The present study focuses on collaborative learning in an e-learning environment in higher education as through the current theoretical and research review it appears that collaborative learning is positively associated with the performance of learners (Armakolas, 2018). Through an empirical research on ten postgraduate students of the Open Greek University (EAP) with the tool of the semi-structured interview, an attempt is made to record the benefits and difficulties in the implementation of collaborative learning in an electronic environment during the Group Counseling Meetings. The research was conducted in the spring of 2019 in the electronic departments of the new postgraduate programs of EAP. The research findings show that students positively value collaborative learning as, as they noted, it enhances interaction and supports them in learning. It is noteworthy that they themselves consider that in distance learning collaborative learning activities are the only circumstance that gave them the greatest sense of belonging as a learning team and community.