By simple definition, collaborative work produces collaborative intelligence. The common theme between both “collaborative work” and “collaborative intelligence” is collaboration. Collaboration is defined as occurring when two or more people work together to realize or achieve something successfully. Collective intelligence is shared intelligence that emerges from the collaboration, collective efforts, and competition of many individuals in consensus decision making (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_intelligence).

Beyond defining collective intelligence and providing at least one example of it, I will attempt to demonstrate how the nature of digital teaching can also efficiently beget creativity in the outcomes of collaboration.

I have been providing training using exclusively within digital platforms for more than two years, teaching students to become competent in an open source software, Drupal. As an instructor I prefer to teach within a digital environment because the “internet levels the playing field”. A level playing field is a concept about fairness; students all “play” by the same set of rules. The “rules” are the participation expectations and the behavior they must exhibit. How each student participates is determined by the use of the digital technologies which are making their learning experience possible. As the instructor it is my duty to create and provide activities which use the digital tools.

More than fairness though, when we interact with each other online, factors such as race, age, economic status, etc., don’t have to enter into the relationship of getting to know a person online. The nature of working in the internet makes us equal and I use that to the advantage of getting students to work together without judgement.

When students are able to work together as equals incredible things can happen. In particular creativity can thrive because each student is fundamentally different and brings in unique perspective, experience and background. One of the most important factors for creative thinking is diversity. It is well known that diverse teams produce more creative results than teams in which all members are from a similar background (http://www.innovationmanagement.se/imtool-articles/why-diversity-is-the-mother-of-creativity).

Collaboration and creativity don’t just happen though. Collaborative intelligence requires each student to have the capacity for effective search, discovery, integration, visualization, and technology to support collaborative problem-solving (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_intelligence).

One of the most effective class activities I have found to harness collaborative intelligence is to break the class into small and randomized groups and have them build a “mini-project” which reinforces the learning objectives of the past week. Each team has a short time to present their project and then each student has the opportunity to peer review the work of the presenting team. The digital tools must also facilitate these activities I have designed.

For example, in a lesson where students must demonstrate their learning of the “Block” system of Drupal, the team activity would be build a small website that utilizes Blocks in creative ways.

Using various digital tools to create a learning environment which allows students to work together and share their knowledge is my duty as a modern educator. By using these digital tools appropriately, collective intelligence is be created and an unsurpassed learning experience can be achieved.