Collaborative learning, which generally refers to students working together in an attempt to create knowledge and achieve shared learning goals, has been identified by scholars as an especially promising instructional approach to higher education.
This instructional approach possesses effective student outcomes such as increased academic achievement, improved abilities in transferring information from one setting to another, and the ability to generate new ideas. Although collaborative learning is commonly used in the higher education setting, there is often confusion with this term with the related but quite distinct learning method –cooperative learning. Notably, collaborative learning is typically employed in colleges and universities whereas cooperative learning is usually used in K12 settings.
This article aims to clarify misconceptions such as this as well as explain exactly what is meant by the term ‘collaborative learning’, the educational benefits of such an approach, and how to implement it effectively with the aid of pedagogical technology.
We also recommend you visit our in-depth guide to collaborative learning, which highlights how to implement effective collaborative learning strategies in a hybrid or online classroom using pedagogical technology.
Collaborative learning is an umbrella term used to refer to a variety of educational approaches involving a joint intellectual effort by either students or both students and teachers together. Usually, this joint intellectual effort involves students working together in groups of two or more people, mutually searching for understanding, solutions, or meaning.
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Specifically, this joint intellectual effort could for instance include the problem-centered instructional approach. This collaborative learning strategy gives students direct experiential encounters with real-world problems. In this way, students get immersed in complex problems that they need to analyze and work through together [1]. This collaborative learning strategy develops problem-solving abilities, understanding of complex relationships as well as decision-making abilities.
Another widely used collaborative learning approach includes peer writing. Peer writing involves students working in small groups at every stage of the writing process. Many writing groups initially begin with brainstorming tasks such as formulating ideas, clarifying their positions, testing arguments, or focusing on compiling a thesis statement before committing it to paper. This approach is probably the oldest form of collaborative learning.
Lastly, discussion groups and seminars refer to a broad array of teaching approaches. In college settings, we usually think of discussions as processes that encourage students to engage in dialogue with teachers and with each other. These dialogues can be both formal and informal. The general structure encompasses open-ended discussion which usually puts the onus on the teacher to pose questions and naturally allow the students to build a conversation and raise arguments in the context of the topic at hand.
Having pointed out the different collaborative learning approaches, it becomes evident that collaborative learning activities vary widely. The most common characteristic centers on students' exploration or application of the course material rather than simply the teacher's presentation or explanation of it. Collaborative learning represents a significant and appropriate shift from the typical teacher-centered or lecture-centered approach in classrooms toward a more student-centered approach to instruction. This means that in collaborative classrooms the lecturing/listening and note-taking process may not disappear entirely but lives alongside other processes that are based on students’ discussion and active engagement and learning of the course material. Teachers implementing this teaching approach usually tend to think of themselves as expert designers of intellectual experiences for students, or coaches of a more emergent learning process.
Collaborative learning has shown great potential in enhancing the learning experience, outcomes, and career readiness. Team-based activities help students students develop key competencies and soft skills that will prepare them for the real working environment. Furthermore, building a collaborative learning environment contributes to increased student engagement, teamwork skills, and civic responsibility.
Calls to involve students more actively in their learning are coming from virtually every corner of higher education policy-making. By its nature, collaborative learning is both socially and intellectually involved [2]. It invites students to build closer connections with other students, their faculty, their courses, and their learning. It improves the ability to think critically and encourages students to participate in providing an answer, explaining their point of view, and justifying their opinion [3]. In these contexts, students turn to active agents in the learning process and collaborate in the formation of their own knowledge. This formation of their own knowledge includes students delving deeper into the subject matter and building new associations from previous knowledge resulting in higher-order learning.
In collaborative teaching situations, students inevitably encounter differences and must get accustomed to recognizing and addressing these differences. The abilities to resolve individual differences, build a universal agreement that honors all voices, and communicate effectively with others are critical in today’s workplace, where collaboration and teamwork are increasingly valued. Moreover, collaborative working environments aid in the cultivation of teamwork, community building, and leadership skills which are key in creating an environment of positive interdependence, which is an additional benefit when working in a team.
If democracy is to endure in any meaningful way, our educational system needs to foster habits of accountability and responsibility to the larger community. Collaborative learning encourages students to acquire an active voice in expressing their ideas and to acquire a sensitive ear to listen to the voices and perspectives of others. Dialogue, deliberation, and consensus-building, from differences that teammates might possess, are fundamental threads in the fabric of collaborative learning environments, the workplace, and in general civic life [2].
Collaborative learning focuses on training learners for the future workplace by encouraging meaningful group interactions in which students exchange ideas, contribute opinions, and critical feedback from their peers. Via such conversations, learners feel more motivated to actively engage in the learning process.
The impact of active collaborative learning on student performance is further enhanced when combined with the use of pedagogical technology. For example, instructors can create interactive study materials using several available tools where students work collaboratively to develop a deep understanding of the content before class time. Asynchronous and synchronous discussion forums can also be facilitated with technology to make sure all students can contribute their opinions regardless of geographical location and time. Teaching tools also support group assessment activities, by streamlining the entire process in which students evaluate their group members’ teamwork skills.
A good example of the enhanced benefits of technology in a collaborative learning environment includes the use case of the IE Business School. In this collaborative environment, the aim was to improve students programming skills as well as their knowledge of the fundamentals of programming in an online environment. By using FeedbackFruits Interactive Document tool, the instructor succeeded in activating students, stimulating collaboration, and fostering knowledge sharing between students in an online context.
To maximize the benefits of collaborative learning, instructors need to pay close attention to group formation. If left to their own devices, students tend to gather with those who are close to them or easy to work with, while students considered “unfit” will be left out. That’s why instructors must support groupings of varied strengths, weaknesses, abilities, backgrounds, and social capacities. Encouraging diversity within groups promotes a dynamic learning community where students encounter diverse opinions and perspectives, which resembles real-life workplace scenarios.
One effective way to stimulate diversity and equity during group selection is to use a survey to understand students’ backgrounds and learning preferences. Based on the survey responses, instructors can form heterogeneous groups that include students with diverse knowledge and cultures who may complement one another effectively and enhance each other’s strengths.
Read more: Make group work “work” with effective group selection
The size of the group is also important. If a group is too small, interactions and discussions may not be varied or rich enough; if too large, introverted students tend to be left out. Therefore, the optimum group size tends to be four to five.
Take the time to provide detailed instructions and guidance to students regarding the benefits and relevance of the collaborative activities. When students are clear about why they need to participate in the projects, and how the task completion helps them achieve the desired learning goals and develop real-life skills.
For a successful collaborative learning activity, students also need to know what they should and should not do while working together. Transparent ground rules; therefore, should be a critical part of the syllabus alongside activity description and objectives. These rules would specify the language and behaviors suitable for teamwork, such as:
To increase students’ ownership of their learning, you can even involve students in drafting the collaborative working rules.
Finally, make sure that the syllabus contains all the relevant information: activity instruction, rationale, and collaboration rules. Time should be allocated for students to carefully study the syllabus and raise questions, as well as for instructors to address the emerging queries.
The ultimate goal of collaborative learning is to nurture essential skills to work effectively in groups namely communication, negotiation, feedback, and problem-solving. A task considered to be collaborative should relate closely to real-world scenarios, encourage students’ cooperation to conduct research, develop solutions to problems, raise and defend opinions, and critically reflect on others’ group contribution and that of themselves.
There are plenty of techniques and strategies that you can use to build a collaborative, authentic task. Below you can find some of the most popular ones that can be used in different course modalities.
For more suggestions on collaborative learning activities, you can check out the following resources:
Encouraging students to reflect on their group members’ performance and that of themselves promotes a sense of responsibility, ownership, and accountability during the collaborative process. This assessment component usually takes place at the end of the activity, after students conclude the group project. A successful self/ group evaluation component requires the development of a holistic rubric that allows students to provide effective feedback, and be clear about what is expected of themselves when working in groups.
For more guidance and examples on creating group evaluation rubrics, check out the resources below:
Instructors can save plenty of time in setting the collaborative activity, as well as enhance various aspects of the learning process with the aid of pedagogical technology. Available teaching tools can help increase engagement during the asynchronous content study phase, streamline the self/group assessment step, assign groups, and more. Therefore, instructors need to spend time evaluating and deciding on the appropriate tools to be used in their collaborative learning courses.
FeedbackFruits offers several solutions to maximize the positive impact of group work, while minimizing the instructors’ workload
How does collaborative learning look like in practice? In this section, you will find examples of different collaborative activities.
For a full overview of how this activity design works, you can take a look at our Collaborative learning journey, which outlines step by step how to incorporate different teaching tools to implement a successful group activity.
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Again, a detailed description of this activity flow along with relevant tools to use can be found in the Collaborative problem-solving journey.
In the most authentic ways, the collaborative learning process models what is meant to promote the larger educational agenda and softer skills that students will require after their educational journey has ended. Learning collaboratively truly demands responsibility, patience, and persistence but the result of this could be fostering a community of active and critical students who want to participate and grow.
Do you want to explore how to elevate your student collaborative experiences? Check out our solutions for Collaboration and Engagement or connect with us.
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