Students who engage in collaborative learning delve deeper into the subject matter, making new associations with previous knowledge resulting in higher-order learning. They also hone their communication and interpersonal skills, preparing them for diverse social and professional environments.
Students may be skeptical of group work, with some believing that not everyone will work equally or receive equal grades. To dispel these misconceptions, teachers can share research on the benefits of collaboration.
1. Increased Engagement
For many learners, learning alone in a virtual environment can be isolating, says Max from Skool Masterclass. They may struggle to stay engaged while reading a text or listening to a lecture and can easily lose focus. But when students work in a group, they’re more likely to enjoy the experience and retain knowledge for a longer period of time. In fact, research shows that learning in groups is more effective than learning independently or watching an instructional video.
One reason why is that collaborative learning requires a deeper level of engagement than solo learning. When a student participates in collaborative learning, they don’t just recall and repeat the material—they have to apply it, assess their peers’ understanding, and create new content. This helps them master the material and improve their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Students also need to manage their time well in a collaborative learning setting, which can make them more accountable for their work. This is because the success of their group depends on how well each individual member does. According to a study published in the Journal of Technology Education, students who participated in collaborative learning performed better on a critical-thinking test than those who studied individually.
In addition, working in a group allows shy or introverted students to break out of their shells and gain confidence in the process. They’ll learn to listen prudently to their peers and see the value in a diverse set of ideas.
When implementing collaborative learning in your classroom, be sure to break larger tasks into small, manageable parts. This way, you can incorporate brief “checkpoints” of instruction to reorient students and ensure they’re on track with their assignments.
2. Increased Self-Awareness
Imagine a team of intrepid mountain climbers, each with their own unique skill set that comes together to overcome the toughest challenges on the summit. Each member contributes to the success of the expedition, but also discovers that their own personal strength lies in how they complement and support one another. This experience is a metaphor for what collaboration can bring to a learning community.
In contrast to traditional classroom learning where students essentially sit and listen to a teacher present information, collaborative learning involves active engagement with classmates. It allows instructors to become facilitators and mentors rather than solely a source of knowledge. It helps to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills. It also promotes high-level discussion, communication and social-emotional learning skills. It teaches students to be self-aware and understand that others have valuable input to add to the group’s project.
It also teaches students that the group can accomplish more than they could individually, which helps build teamwork and collaboration skills. It can help shy or solitary individuals find their voice in the group and feel a sense of belonging. Additionally, it exposes them to different perspectives and working styles they may not have experienced before, helping to broaden their social horizons and expand their worldview.
However, it’s important to note that group work can be intimidating. Many students have concerns about letting down the group or being seen as unproductive or inefficient. To prevent these issues, it’s important for instructors to make clear expectations and guidelines for how the groups should function. It’s also helpful to create groupings that are based on student strengths, weaknesses, interests and abilities. Then, when it’s time for collaboration, students will naturally gravitate toward groups with whom they are comfortable.
3. Improved Learning Outcomes
Collaborative learning is an effective way to help students learn. Unlike traditional learning in which students absorb information and then take an exam, collaborative learning allows for active participation from each student to help them understand the material better. Students learn to share ideas and form opinions together as a group, which helps them retain the information for longer than they would on their own.
In addition, collaborative learning encourages social-emotional skills such as decision making, problem solving, leadership, and teamwork. This method is ideal for subjects like the sciences and projects-based learning, where students can work closely with one another to solve problems. It also creates a low-stress environment for students, encouraging them to come out of their shells and speak openly with one another.
It’s important for teachers to provide clear guidance on how and why students should work together. This can include defining roles such as leader, recorder, and encourager. This will prevent a dominant individual from taking control of discussion, and encourages students to listen attentively to their peers. In addition, it’s helpful to include a timeline and a deadline to ensure that all members of the group are on the same page.
Collaboration is often a messy process, and it takes time for students to get used to working with one another. But with the right planning and mentorship, the benefits of collaborative learning can far outweigh any difficulties. In fact, it’s a great way to prepare students for their future in the workplace, where they will often be expected to collaborate with coworkers and managers on projects and presentations. By allowing students to work with their classmates in a low-stress, safe environment, they can build valuable skills that will benefit them well beyond their education.
4. Increased Social Interaction
While you may have groaned at the thought of team projects in school, it’s important to understand that with careful planning and guidance, collaborative learning can boost students’ social and emotional skills and academic outcomes. In addition to helping them develop a deeper understanding of concepts through discussions, collaboration helps them build caring, trusting relationships in the classroom and with classmates.
Collaborative learning provides an opportunity for shy students to come out of their shells and build positive interactions with peers. It also exposes students to different perspectives and working styles, which is something they can take with them to the workplace or other professional settings.
When students work together, they need to communicate effectively in order to reach a common goal. This can be done through various methods, including think-pair-share or write-pair-share. The result is that students learn to express their ideas in a clear and concise manner, which leads to higher understanding.
By facilitating group conversations, instructors can also assess how well students are understanding the material. This information can help them make decisions on what instruction to provide to their students. In turn, this will lead to a more productive classroom.
One of the most difficult aspects of collaborative learning is ensuring that all students are involved in the process. In order to do this, instructors must carefully design groups by assigning tasks and evaluating their effectiveness. In addition, they should encourage a diversity of voices in groups. This can be achieved by pairing students with different strengths and weaknesses, as well as ensuring that the groups are balanced in terms of ability, gender, and social capital. Additionally, they should collect feedback and intervene if necessary.
5. Increased Productivity
When students work together in groups, they are often able to accomplish tasks that would be more difficult for them alone. For example, a student may be able to research information more efficiently with a partner or come up with more creative ideas for an assignment. This efficiency can help them understand concepts better and remember them for a longer period of time.
Moreover, collaboration helps build teamwork skills that will be essential in the workplace, such as planning projects and communicating with teammates. Additionally, it can help students develop their leadership abilities by learning to step into their strengths and support others in group assignments.
As an instructor, it is important to guide and monitor the process of group work in order to ensure that all students are successful. This includes defining clear collaborative rules, providing detailed instructions for the project, and encouraging students to share their ideas during the group process. It is also a good idea to encourage diversity in the formation of groups, as this will expose students to different perspectives and working styles that they will encounter in the workplace and other situations.
With a little careful planning, collaborative learning can be an effective tool for promoting deep understanding and positive social and emotional outcomes in the classroom. While some may fear the classic pitfalls of group projects, such as interpersonal squabbles and inequitable workloads, with proper mentoring, students can gain a valuable experience that will serve them well in their future endeavors. This type of learning can also help students feel more confident and connected with their peers, as they will know that their work is contributing to the success of the entire class.
