Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning is an educational approach that involves groups of learners working together to solve a problem, complete a task, or create a product. It is based on the idea that learning is a naturally social act. Learning occurs though active engagement among peers, either face-to-face or online. The main characteristics of collaborative learning are: a common task or activity; small group learning, co-operative behavior; interdependence; and individual responsibility and accountability (Lejeune, 1999). Collaborative learning is similar to, but not the same as, cooperative learning. In cooperative learning the task is divided vertically (i.e., members work more or less concurrently on different aspects of a project), whereas in collaborative learning the task is divided horizontally (i.e., members work together more or less sequentially on different aspects of a project) (Dillenbourg, 1999).

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 activities can include collaborative writing, group projects, joint problem solving, debates, study teams, and other activities.

All of the basic principles of assessment that apply to individual work apply to group work as well. Assessing group work has added wrinkles, however. First, depending on the objectives of the assignment, both process and product-related skills must be assessed. Second, group performance must be translated into individual grades – which raises issues of fairness and equity. Complicating both these issues is the fact that neither group processes nor individual contribution are necessarily apparent in the final product. Thus, the instructor needs to find ways of obtaining that information.

The advantages I see when working with others is that you can usually get a lot more done in a shorter amount of time. One advantage of working in groups is that a problem can be solved faster and easier. Any time more than one person works together to solve a problem it is usually more efficient. I also think that the time goes by faster in group work! The work load may also be less if everyone pitches in and helps. When working in a group it allows for people to think as one and help others become "unstuck." Problem solving becomes easier when people work together. The task assigned may not seem so overwhelming if the realization has been made that there are other students there to help solve the problem. Working with others provides the ability to complete large projects that one person could not do by themselves without a significant amount of time.

Some 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. Some groups may go too fast for one person and that person feels lost, so he/she just copies. A problem is people going too fast, without waiting to see if everyone understands what is going on. Working in groups can often involve situations where the group moves to fast for a student. It allows work to get done without knowing that every person in that group actually understands what was done