Asmita Sharma
Team TeacherTribe
Stepping over the threshold of the classroom, one witnesses a dynamic environment at play. Buzzing voices fill the room as students engage in conversations, exchange ideas, play little games or read in their quiet little corners. Every student has a different way of expressing their individuality. It may also reflect on their preferred learning styles.
As a student, I remember having assigned group work to build on our concepts, whether that be profit and loss for maths class or performing experiments in science. Working together towards a shared goal can help build a better understanding of the concept.
What is ‘Collaborative Learning’?
Collaborative learning is a method of teaching that involves students working together to complete tasks and solve problems. The concept builds upon the idea that learning and knowledge are better grasped when interacting and sharing experiences.
The idea of collaborative learning is not new, with research on the subject going as far back as the 1980s. However, with new technology and shifting paradigms in education, collaborative learning has become necessary in classrooms.
Here are a few strategies to successfully incorporate it into classrooms:
Select students who may work well together- Students tend to choose people they are familiar with for a group project. However, when teachers select the groups it allows for the mixing of strengths and weaknesses as well as diversity and social capability.
Teach students to actively listen- Listening to one another attentively and avoiding interruptions can help students understand and gauge the important points at hand.
Create specific goals – Clear goals and expectations are important to allow students to work through a concrete task without the group work dissolving due to lack of enthusiasm.
Use real-life problems instead of imaginary ones- Real-world-based assignments enable students to research, form real opinions and develop practical solutions.
Size the group and assign roles to each member- A group too small may not have a dynamic exchange of ideas and a group too large would affect each student’s participation. Hence, optimum-sized groups are effective. Assigning roles to the members can help students take up the responsibilities of their roles and enable them to understand what is expected of them.
Collaborative learning allows students to foster social skills and build on their problem-solving abilities. They learn to hear and work with different perspectives and ideas. It allows students of different personality types to work together and participate. It can also improve students' communication skills as the task relies on effectively communicating ideas to accomplish the goal.
How can collaborative learning benefit your classroom? Share your views to asharma@greycaps.com.