Collaborative Learning

”Collaborative learning is a method of teaching and learning in which students team together to explore a significant question or create a meaningful project.” (Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 2004)

Characteristics of Collaborative Learning

In a collaborative learning environment, the educator and the students will be working together in a collaborative way. This encourages an environment where the learners are active in their learning process and not there just to follow what the educator is passing to them. In this setting, the educator is leading the learners in various activities which encourages collaboration between the individuals.

Moreover, in a collaborative learning environment the students need to understand that although they are working in groups together with the other learners, the individual effort is essential. The educator monitors each individual and therefore opt for differentiated tasks on which the learners can be assessed on even though they’re working together in a collaborative way.

The benefits and importance of Collaborative Learning

1. Students ”embeds knowledge through listening and sharing”. In different studies it is shown that students are more eagerly to learn when they are discussing with their peers. ”The dialogue and discussion over new ideas and approaches to solving the task set make it more memorable and require a deeper level of skills.” (ResourcEd, 2019)
2. Collaborative learning encourages learners to become more confident in themselves. This is due to the fact that through collaboration the learners can understand that their ideas and thoughts are essential in solving the task.
3. Collaborative learning encourages ”inclusivity” as every child is valued and their credit is also important in the learning process.
4. Learners are given the skills to deal with when facing social situations in the future. It encourages the learners to deal with problem-solving and discussion in order to enhance the learners skills towards a more collaborative society in the future. (ResourcEd, 2019)

References:

Collaborative learning: what can it do for your students? – ResourcEd. (2019). Retrieved from https://resourced.prometheanworld.com/collaborative-learning-students/

Educational Broadcasting Corporation(2004) Cooperative and Collaborative Learning: Explanation. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/coopcollab/index.html

Engelhardt, K. (2017) Integrating collaborative learning in classrooms across Europe. [ebook] European Schoolnet.  http://teachup.eun.org/documents/556205/1092039/TeachUP_D1.1a_The-changing-role-and-competences-of-teachers.pdf/f1b05e36-4e2a-42f2-8907-9b17409aaf46