Collaborative Learning

Rumi Dolui
M.Ed trainee of Gangadharpur Sikshan mandir
Introduction :
Collaborative learning is a situation in which two or more people learn or
attempt to learn something together. This, collaborative learning is commonly
illustrated when groups of students work together to search for understanding,
meaning or solutions or to create an artifact or product of their learning.
Collaborative learning is social environment where conversation between learners
takes place.

Collaborative learning can occur peer to peer or in larger groups. Peer

learning or peer instruction is a type of Collaborative learning that involves
students working in pairs or shall groups to discuss concepts or find solutions to
problems. Collaborative learning is an e-learning technique by which one or more
students, teachers and individuals jointly learn, research and share an educational
approach by allowing remotely connected peers and individuals to Collaborate in
real time through technological aids and resources.

The main characteristics of Collaborative learning are - a common task or

activity, shall group learning, co-operative behavior, independence and individual
responsibility and accountability.

Collaborative learning is similar to, but not the same as co-operative

learning. In co-operative learning the task is divided horizontally.

Feathers
 Collaborative learning describes the many educational approaches involving
joint intellectual efforts by students, or students and teacher together.
 It engage subject specific discussions with peers.
 It provides how to work co-operatively and support each other.
  It develop effective team views to deepen knowledge and promote critical
thinking.
 It fasters individual accountability to the team.
 It develop in depend learning strategies.
 It mitigates learner isolation.

Teaching and education, Collaborative style

Collaborative teaching is a teaching practice that includes groups of students
working together to solve a problem, complete a task or create a product. There is a
trend toward collaboration in the 21st century, as collaborative teaching, learning,
thinking and working. In education, collaborative in the most successful promotion
of teaching programs for the majority of students. There is a change in role of
teachers are no longer as experts transmitting knowledge to the students, but they
act as experts who design academic programs for students, as instructor or mentors
particularly in the emergent learning process. This review article seeks to define
the collaborative style of teaching and learning, the basic elements of it and the
main benefits thereof.

Benefits of Collaborative learning

Development of higher level thinking, and communication, self management
and leadership skill.

 Promotion of student faculty interaction.

 Increase in student pretension, self esteem and responsibility.
 Exposure to and an increase in understanding of diverse perspectives.

What are the some ways to include best practices for Collaborative
learning in our Classroom.
1. Establish group goals.
2. keep group midsized.
3. Establish flexible group norms.
4. Build trust and promote open communication.
5. For larger tasks, create group roles.
6. Create a pretest and posttest.
 7. Consider the learning process itself, as part of assessment.
8. Consider using different stronger, like jigsaw techniques.
9. Allows group to reduce anxiety.
10. Establish group interactions.

Disadvantages of Collaborative learning

 People need to go at different speeds while doing the lab to fully understand
and absorb the information. It seems that while working in a group, someone
is either slowed down or forced to catch up faster than they would like to.
 Someone may try to take over the group and dictate what everyone does.
These type of people are not good group workers.
 More quiet people may not feel comfortable expressing themselves and their
ideas with a group.
 Sometimes people just don't get along no matter how hard they try, Their
personalities clash. In these case long time lab partners would be horrible
you spend more time over coming your difference than actually doing the
work.
 The main disadvantages of working in a group is that members of the group
don't always co-operate well.
 there could be ongoing with group members when you put a group of people
that have never worked together, personalities might lead to arguments, this
would waste time and lead to an unproductive group.

Positive effect of Collaborative learning

During a Collaborative learning session, students are working and learning
together. They are not working on academics but social skills. Students must adapt
to the learning styles, behaviors and abilities to others. There are skills and
adjustments that can carry over throughout life. Improved social skills in students
can improve their relationship with others in the class.

This teaching methodology can also have an effect on students interested

what child wouldn't prefer working with a group of their peers over sifting at their
desk with a worksheet. Being able to successfully adapt Collaborative learning into
lesson plans will allow students to be more engaged and involved in the learning
process, instead of being just passive learners. Students can learn about their
strengths and weaknesses as they work through and accomplish a task in a small
group. As this group inspired learning progress, students may then find more
success in the classroom. As they watch and learn from their peers, they may find
new ways of tasking problems. Continuous growth in this manner can only
enhances the individual learning process and make for happier students.

Educational Implication
 Develop higher level thinking skill.
 Promotes student faculty interaction and familiarity.
 Increase students pretension.
 Build self esteem in students.
 Enhances student satisfaction with the learning experience.
 Promotes a positive attitude toward the subject matter.
 Develop oral communication skill.

Conclusion
Collaborative learning is very important in achieving critical thinking. According
to Gokhale (1995), individuals are able to achieve higher loves of learning and
retain more information when they work in a group rather than individually, this
applies to both the facilitators of knowledge. The instructions and the receivers of
knowledge, the students.

References
archive.wceruw.org.
https://www.eztalks.com