Collaborative learning is based upon educational philosophies set forth during the early to mid-twentieth century. Originally popularized in England as an alternative to what were rapidly being recognized as the outdated methods of boarding schools at that time, CL focuses upon the use of groups of students to solve problems, complete projects, or create products together. Today, its applications apply outside of the purely academic environment: industry workshops, corporate think tanks, and other organizations have introduced collaborative learning to every field of human innovation, from product design to politics.
CL is sometimes known as “cooperative learning,” although this is not a common reference. Its use is advocated for a variety of reasons, with some of the most popular arguments being outlined below:
Students Benefit from a Diversity of Viewpoints
As in biology, sociology and other fields, diversity is the key to advancement in education. A diverse range of viewpoints and possibilities helps the student to figure out what works and what doesn’t, by way of solving a particular problem. It also allows them to focus on the “why” of a solution: why is one method for resolving a particular issue better than another? The more layers of understanding a student possesses about why and how a particular solution works, the better they’ll feel about it, and the more confidence they’ll have in taking their newfound knowledge and applying it in a broader sense.
Students Learn Most Quickly in an Active, Hands-On Setting
Throughout our lives, we demonstrably pick up new concepts, and apply them to a framework of existing knowledge, when we approach a new problem in a direct and hands-on way. When encouraged to confront a problem from the perspective of a trial and error approach, students become more innovative, as well as more adaptive. They are much more likely to try something new and unexpected than they would be in a theoretical model, and are often eager to see how it works in real life. By combining this approach with a collaborative setting, learners benefit — not only from their own attempts at finding a solution, but from those made by others. As a result, the entire process is greatly accelerated for all involved.
Learning is a Social Activity
Whether there’s a group of students trying to solve a difficult mathematical puzzle, or a group of innovators trying to develop the next step in computer technology, people learn best when accompanied by other learners — individuals who share their specific goals and aspirations. The spread of ideas introduces people to new information in an ongoing fashion, and the ability to attempt, refine or discard potential solutions as a group speeds up what is otherwise a much more gradual process. CL requires specific social skills — including the ability to work well with others, and to confront an issue with a certain amount of emotional maturity, setting individual pride aside — but these are abilities that are themselves best imparted through a collaborative environment. The method itself is its own most effective teacher.
Collaborative learning uses the abilities and the expertise of varied groups of people, often (but not necessarily) students, to solve a shared problem together. In so doing, it takes advantage of multiple sources of insight and innovation, encourages outside-the-box thinking, employs each involved person’s respective strengths in complementary fashion, and encourages the growth and sharing of knowledge and expertise.
See also: Top 10 Best Online Masters in Teaching Degree Programs
