What is Collaborative Learning?

1. You will have ~15 minutes to prepare as a group.
   • You may use the resources provided here to help with content expertise, along with any other knowledge you may have on the topic.
2. Teach your colleagues the answer to your question (so, yes, we are asking you to come up with a lesson together).
   • You will have 5 minutes (maximum) to teach when we return from breakout rooms.

(Johnson, David W., Roger T. Johnson, and Karl A. Smith. 1998. Active learning: Cooperation in the college classroom. (Second Edition). Edina, MN: Interaction Book Company.)

Collaborative learning refers to students working in pairs or small groups to achieve shared learning goals.  Students are actively engaged in learning the material.

Essential features include:

4. Intentional Design: faculty members intentionally structure learning activities for the students, rather than just telling students to get into groups.
5. Meaningful Learning: As students work together, they must increase their knowledge, or deepen their understanding of the course outcomes.  The task assigned to the group must be structured intentionally to accomplish a learning outcome of the course.
6. Teamwork Skills: In addition to subject matter, students are required to learn the interpersonal skills and small group skills required to function as part of a group.  These skills are purposefully taught.
7. Co-labour: All participants in the group must engage in actively working together toward the stated outcomes.  Students may all receive the same task, or they may each complete a different task, but all must contribute more or less equally.
   • Positive Interdependence: The success of individuals is linked to the success of the group.  Individuals succeed to the extent that the group succeeds, so students are motivated to help each other.
   • Promotive Interaction: Students are expected to actively help and support each other.
   • Individual and Group Accountability: The group is held accountable for achieving its goals.  Each member is accountable for contributing, and is assessed individually.
8. Self-Evaluation/Group Processing: Students learn to evaluate their group productivity, describe member actions as helpful or unhelpful, and to make decisions about what to continue or change within the group.

Examples of Collaborative Learning include working in pairs, such as “Think-Pair-Share” (think individually, discuss ideas or problem in pairs, share with the entire group). Additionally, small group techniques such as Roundtable (students write in turn on a single pad of paper, stating their ideas aloud as they write) and Jigsaw (students divide into home groups, each student in the group becomes an expert on one of the parts.  Experts on a given topic work together to master the material. Experts reassemble in their home teams, and teach their team members their new expertise).