Collaborative and Collaborative Learning Richard Yuretich and Heather Macdonald

Traditional Teaching Cartoons courtesy of Karl Smith

Collaborative Learning Cartoons courtesy of Karl Smith

Cooperative/Collaborative Learning “Students work together to maximize their own and each others’ learning” (Johnson et al., 1990) Structured environment in which students learn in cooperative groups Question or activity should benefit from group approach

Collaborative Learning Example Individually, list 10 organisms that live in the marine environment Sort your list of 10 into groups, and explain the reasons for your grouping. Compare your list with those of others in your team, and discuss the similarities and differences in your classification. Each team prepares one classification scheme for all the organisms identified by members and explains the rationale for the system.

Benefits of Well-designed Collaborative Learning Activities

Examples of Collaborative Learning Activities Informal Learning Groups –Think-pair-share –Discussion or problem-solving groups –Gallery walk Formal Learning Groups –Jigsaw groups –Simulations and role-playing exercises –Debates –Research groups

The Jigsaw Structure Teams of students investigate different aspects of the same problem/issue (each member of a team works on the same thing). Members of each team then disperse among mixed groups and teach other group members what they have learned. The group puts the pieces together and addresses a question that can be answered once all the team pieces are together)

The Jigsaw Structure TeamsGroups

Some Examples

Critical Aspects for Success Team assignments carefully crafted –Overlapping assignments –Each valuable in its own right –Lend themselves to comparison –Appropriate level Students come prepared Build in individual accountability

Questions? Ideas for Activities?

Benefits of Well-designed Collaborative Learning Activities Active engagement of students and improved learning Peer-teaching Practice in speaking the language of the discipline Practice in the skills of teamwork: –Students are responsible for contributing to the team’s success. –Students are individually accountable for their own performance.