Table of Contents
Introduction to Collaborative Learning
Collaborative learning is an educational method of utilizing groups to improve learning via performing tasks together. Groups of two or more students handle assignments together to find solutions to problems, execute tasks, or conduct research. Learners would engage to process and synthesize ideas and concepts as a team instead of employing rote memorization.
Through debates, considering each other’s opinions, and reviewing ideas, team members will gain a better comprehension as a team than as independent learners. Collaborative efforts mean that the students will get rewarded as a group. They usually get rewarded with online certificates, digital badges, or printed certificates.
Be careful not to mistake cooperative learning for collaborative learning. Though the basics are very similar, there is a vital difference between the two. Cooperative learning is a type of collaborative work, but the former involves individual assignments apart from the group’s goal.
Collaborative Learning Strategies: Group Projects, Problem-Based Learning
Strategies for collaboration have to be suitable for group work and problem-based learning. Group projects involve dividing a class into small teams of two or more to execute tasks for a common target, and a certification of participation is often awarded to acknowledge their hard work.
On the other hand, project-based learning (PBL) entails a small team of learners contributing their efforts to a project that helps them build their knowledge and abilities. This is done via group tasks that promote active participation in finding solutions to real-world problems.
Both project-based learning and group work are essential in the development of active learning in an educational setting. They prepare the learners for fields where teamwork is necessary. Without further ado, let us take a look at some common collaborative learning strategies:
Think-Pair-Share/Write-Pair-Share
This is considered a classic technique where team members conduct independent research or write individual reports on a problem or question. They will then share their work in pairs before the last stage, which is the group discussion or meeting to arrive at a collective conclusion. Group meetings involve contributions from each pair.
Peer Review
Peer review provides opportunities for students to receive feedback from each other, apart from their teachers or instructors. This can be done in pairs or teams of three or more collaborators. It could also be the whole class giving constructive criticism. Peer review is effective when there are good feedback techniques, adequate communication/language skills, standards for respect, and shared accountability.
Jigsaw Technique
This collaborative learning approach bears some similarities to think-pair-share/write-pair-share in a way that each student in the classroom (or small teams of learners) is given a “puzzle piece” that will later be contributed to a main class project. Each student or team will try to solve unique problems related to the collective task by transforming themselves into “experts” in their assigned topics. This makes every learner develop a sense of accountability and understand what it means to be a valuable community member.
Case Study
Group efforts in assessing case studies can be a good strategy for analyzing scenarios and attempting to understand various factors that brought about a certain result. A teacher could mandate the students to investigate a less-than-ideal situation collectively, proffer solutions and give rewards.
The learners’ diverse perspectives and individual experiences will create a learning process where skills such as communication, critical thinking, and conflict resolution, will be developed.
Benefits of Collaborative Learning: Improved Engagement and Retention
Benefits of Collaborative Learning: Improved Engagement and Retention
Collaborative work is essentially engaging, and this is the same when learners actively contribute to group projects. A student will be more driven to learn and cooperate in this situation because of the realization that other group members are relying on his/her input and the collective goal cannot be achieved without it.
Feelings of accountability and responsibility will develop in each participant and make them take their roles seriously. Also, team members will want to help each other succeed because of the understanding that one person’s weaknesses might lead to the group’s failure. Social interdependence theory is in play here.
Engagement will lead to a boost in information retention. This is because each learner is seeking to gather as much relevant knowledge as possible to carry out their duties and meet up with the group’s target. The information could be obtained from individual research or shared learning experiences such as team discussions. There could also be retention of information that develops one’s skills.
Collaboration in learning also aids teams in building a collective working memory in the sense that each collaborator does not have to hold so much information on their own. The load can be shared so that teammates will not be burdened with too much individually. Efficiency in processing and retaining new knowledge is ensured this way. The instructor will also not face the pressure of acquiring too much information for the sake of teaching.
The Role of Collaboration in Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
The role of collaboration in critical thinking and problem-solving collaboration fosters exciting learning activities like debates, discussions, and so on among students. Critical thinking is stimulated during such sessions when various opinions are presented on a subject matter as learners express their ideas and listen to those of other group members. The students will develop the following abilities:
- An objective examination of information
- Decision-making skills
Collaboration strategies can help mirror real-life situations for students. And one of those situations is the case of problem-solving in collaborative projects handled by professionals. Learners’ teamwork skills developed in the classroom will get them ready for the difficulties they will face in their careers.
Building a Collaborative Learning Environment: Physical and Virtual Spaces
Educators or learning institutions may have to link physical and virtual spaces together to ensure smooth and effective collaboration in the classroom. This is also necessary in situations where the participants are in different locations across the world. The learning space can be designed with the following elements or arrangements:
- Internet connection for research, communication, file-sharing, and more.
- Integration of display technologies into the classroom seamlessly (e.g. smart TVs, PCs, and projectors).
- Use of apps for learning management, game-based learning, file-sharing, social networking, and/or videoconferencing.
Conclusion
Facilitating a collaborative setting needs careful decision-making and a solid foundation. It does not have to be a complex process. Learners should be made to get used to teamwork with proper orientation and guidance for the strategies implemented. They will get used to such a learning approach after many sessions.
