Collaborative Learning

John Milliken
School of Education
Queens University Belfast
Learning outcomes
To consider the role of collaborative learning
To examine some collaborative learning
approaches
To consider some aspects of educational
debate
To be aware of changing aspects of teaching
and learning
Curriculum issues

Prescriptive Curriculum Experiential Curriculum

Teacher-centered Student-centred
Linear & rational Coherent & relevant
Part to whole organisation Whole to part
organisation
Teaching as transmitting Teaching as facilitating
Learning as receiving Learning as
constructing
Structured environment Flexible
environment
Learning in context
Teaching vs learning

John Amos Comenius, a 16th

Century scholar; summarised the
approach that teaching should
follow, The main object is to find
a method by which teachers
teach less but learners learn
more, proving that current
problems have noble pedigrees.
Collaborative learning

Collaborative learning is an umbrella term for a variety of

educational approaches involving joint intellectual effort by
students, or students and teachers together. Usually
students are working in groups of two or more, mutually
searching for understanding, solutions or meanings, or
creating a product.
Collaborative learning activities vary widely, but most
center on students exploration or application of the course
material, not simply the teachers presentation or
explication of it.

Smith and McGregor (1992)

Educational goals

Involvement
Co-operation and
teamwork
Community
responsibility
Assumptions about learning

Learning is an active constructive process

Learning depends on rich contexts

Learners are diverse

Learning is inherently social

Approaches

Collaborative learning

Co-operative learning

Writing
Peer
groups
teaching
Learning Problem-based
communities learning
Discussion
groups
 RQ

Widespread use

Based on theory and validated by research

Amount, generalisability, breadth and
applicability
Variety of co-operative learning methods
available
Why use cooperative learning?

promote student learning and

academic achievement
enhance student satisfaction
with their learning experience
help students develop skills in
oral communication
develop students' social skills
promote student self-esteem
increase student retention
develop a community of learners
5 Elements of cooperative
learning

1. Positive interdependence
2. Face-to-face interaction
3. Individual and group accountability
4. Interpersonal and small group skills
5. Group processing
Postive interdependence

Each group member's efforts

are required and indispensable
for group success

Each group member has a

unique contribution to make to
the joint effort because of his
or her resources and/or role
and task responsibilities

Sink or swim together!

Face-to-face interaction
Orally explaining how to
solve problems
Teaching one's
knowledge to others
Checking for
understanding
Discussing concepts
being learned
Connecting present
with past learning Promote each other's
success
Individual and group
accountability
Keeping the size of the group
small.
Giving an individual test to each
student.
Randomly examining students
orally.
Observing each group and
recording the frequency with
which each member-contributes
to the group's work.
Assigning one student in each
group the role of checker.
Having students teach what they No hitchhiking! No social
learned to someone else. loafing
No freeloading
Interpersonal and small group
skills

Social skills must be taught:

Leadership
Decision-making
Trust-building
Communication
Conflict-management skills

Mutual understanding
Group processing

Group members discuss

how well they are
achieving their goals and
maintaining effective
working relationships
Describe what member
actions are helpful and not
helpful
Make decisions about
what behaviours to
continue or change
 RQ

Jigsaw Approach
Jigsaw Approach
Jigsaw approach
Approaches

Collaborative learning

Co-operative learning

Writing
Peer
groups
teaching
Problem-based
Learning
learning
communities Discussion
groups
Problem based learning (PBL)

PBL is a learning-centred pedagogy based

on current theories of learning including
constructivism, social constructivism and
situated learning.

Problem-based learning clearing house

https://chico.nss.udel.edu/Pbl/
PBL - an iterative process
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Read the
problem
Brainstorm-
hypothesize Next page
EVALUATE
Identify learning Return-Reread-
issues Report-Review
Research-Learn Prof. H. Pross
Queens School of
Medicine
Problem statement

EXEMPLAR TASK:

Based on the information provided on

the handout, work in groups of four and
compile a problem statement.
Approaches

Collaborative learning

Co-operative learning

Writing
Peer
groups
teaching
Learning Problem-based
communities learning
Discussion
groups
Learning communities
Sociocultural and constructivist views of
learning (Lave & Wenger)
Two important questions:-
1. What social engagements and processes provide the proper
context for learning?
2. What forms of co-participation might be required when
engaging learners in these forms of learning.
Community types
Learning community: focus on learning together,
sharing, developing relationships
Communities of practice: focus on developing
professional practice
Community of enquiry: focus on enquiring about
and issue/area
Knowledge community: focus on developing
knowledge
Cyber communities
Teaching/learnin
g
Face-to-face Blended Online

the cornerstone of an online community lies in the presence of

socially close, strong, intimate ties, the development of trust, shared
values and social organisation.
The quality of peoples relations is an important characteristic in an
online community

(This will be the modified role of the teacher as an e-moderator!)

E-Learning (teacher to moderator)

Salmon (2005)
References
Johnson, D.W. and Johnson, R. T. (1990) Cooperation and Competition:
Theory and Research, Edina, MN; Interaction Book Company
Lave, J. and Wenger, E. (1991) Situated learning; legitimate peripheral
participation, Cambridge University Press
McConnell, D. (2006) E-learning groups and communities, SRHE/OU
Press
Salmon, G. (2005) E-moderating, Open University Press
Smith, B. L. & McGregor, J. (1992) What is collaborative learning?
National Center on Postsecondary education