How group learning activities help students work productively and promote students growth and development?
How Can I Do This?Group learning goes by many different names (e.g., group work, cooperative learning, team learning, peer instruction, etc.) and spans the spectrum from two students solving a problem to a team working on a semester long project. For group learning to be effective, the students need to practice team building skills and learn to be accountable to their group as well as themselves. Show
Why Is This Important?Teaching students to work effectively in groups will help them become more critical thinkers with deeper understanding about the content. It will also foster positive interpersonal relationships, help students feel more fulfilled, and prepare them for their chosen career. Group learning helps students:
By Indeed Editorial Team Updated August 30, 2021 | Published February 25, 2020 Updated August 30, 2021 Published February 25, 2020 The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed's data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey. Collaborative learning involves working as a group to solve a problem or understand an idea. While often implemented in the classroom, many companies also use collaborative learning to help professionals learn and remember important skills and concepts. In this article, we describe this learning style and the benefits of collaborative learning in the workplace. What is collaborative learning?Collaborative learning is a learning style that encourages teamwork and group participation. In these groups, students or colleagues work with their peers, a team leader or supervisor to complete a task. They can ask each other questions, share ideas and give feedback. Collaborative learning can involve any number of people, from a couple of individuals to a large group. Examples of collaborative learning include:
Collaborative learning allows professionals to complete projects and learn new concepts while also developing social, teamwork and communication skills. Collaborative learning can be done in person—such as with a group of students in a classroom—or computer-based through online platforms. Technology advancements make it easy to communicate and share information, images and video among a group working remotely. Related: Learning Styles for Career Development Benefits of collaborative learningCollaborative learning allows people to learn in a way that is fun and effective. It also helps them develop skills, such as communication and problem-solving, that they can use in other parts of their lives. The following are 10 benefits of collaborative learning:
Improves problem-solving skillsCollaborative learning projects often require groups to complete a task or solve a problem. In the process, participants get to hear a variety of possible solutions from people with different opinions and perspectives. People might provide unique ideas their teammates would not have thought of. The group must then discuss and analyze each one to find the best solution. Working through a problem or an assignment as a group can help people develop their own problem-solving skills or discover new ways to handle different types of situations at work. Related: Problem-Solving Skills: Definitions and Examples Encourages social interactionTo be effective, the members of a collaborative learning group need to work as a team. These groups might include people of various personality types. By working together and sharing ideas, they can practice and develop social skills such as active listening, empathy and respect. Strong social skills can help people form and maintain strong personal and professional relationships. Related: Social Skills: Definition and Examples Promotes diversityCollaborative learning often brings together people of various backgrounds, beliefs, education levels and ages. They might present new ideas and perspectives that are unique to their culture or upbringing. As a result, collaborative learning can encourage open-mindedness and acceptance in the workplace. Improves communication skillsCollaborative learning depends on communicating effectively to complete a task. Participants use their verbal communication skills to share ideas, explain concepts and provide feedback in clear and concise ways. They might also use written communication skills if the assignment involves tasks such as group writing or peer editing. The more people practice their communication skills in these types of settings, the stronger they tend to become. Related: Communication Skills: Definitions and Examples Inspires creativityCombining different views and ideas can result in creative solutions to collaborative learning assignments. One individual's idea or suggestion might inspire a new and creative idea from their team members. Collaborative learning encourages this type of creative thinking because it blends perspectives and personality types. Creates trustCollaborative learning groups need to work together to reach their goal. They rely on each other to be successful. Thus, they need to learn to trust each other. This trust can transfer into future workplace interactions, which could lead to increased productivity and morale. Improves confidenceWhen working as a group, team members help support each other as they move toward a common goal. Collaborative learning can be particularly beneficial for individuals who are shy, anxious or introverted. A supportive group atmosphere can help them build confidence. Team members can encourage them to share their opinions and contribute to discussions. As a result, their confidence may grow as they realize their value to the group. Encourages engagementSuccessful collaborative learning requires all participants to be involved. It encourages passive individuals to be more engaged and active in the project or discussion. It is a good way to get quiet or inactive colleagues to be more interested and involved in a project. People who are engaged in their work are often more productive and have a more positive attitude. Allows people to have funLearning as a group is often more enjoyable and less tedious than reading training materials, listening to a lecture or watching an instructional video alone. Many even involve fun tasks such as solving puzzles, role-playing and playing games. During collaborative learning exercises, teams often feel more comfortable, relaxed and able to laugh and have fun. When learning experiences are fun, people are more likely to remember what they learned and be eager to learn more in the future. Develops critical-thinking skillsCollaborative learning can encourage participants to think at a high level. They must analyze and discuss information to come to the best decision or solve a problem. By having to explain their ideas and interpret and assess the ideas of others, people can improve their critical-thinking skills. Critical thinking is important for resolving conflicts, creating ideas and making sure projects get completed smoothly and efficiently. Related: Critical Thinking Skills: Definitions and Examples Builds relationshipsCollaborative learning can create new friendships and strengthen existing relationships. It often brings together individuals who would not have met or worked with each other under normal circumstances. As team members spend time working on a collaborative learning project together, they get to know each other better. This can lead to positive personal and professional relationships and higher morale. If a supervisor or teacher is participating in or leading the collaborative learning effort, it can help that individual understand their employees better and strengthen their professional relationship. Why is group activity important for students?Benefits for students
Properly structured, group projects can reinforce skills that are relevant to both group and individual work, including the ability to: Break complex tasks into parts and steps. Plan and manage time. Refine understanding through discussion and explanation.
How is group learning effective?Effective learning
Working with others enables you to pool your ideas and see problems from different perspectives. In a group situation, you can attempt tasks that could not be accomplished by an individual, combining a variety of skills and expertise to tackle more complex and larger scale problems.
How does group work increase student engagement?Overview. Group work is a powerful instructional strategy that encourages deep engagement with content through active and social learning. Successful group assignments and activities allow students to exercise collaborative skills in order to create something together that individually they would not, or could not.
How can you promote an effective learning environment in a group?How to Create a Positive Learning Environment for the Upcoming School Year. Build Positive Relationships Through Communication.. Promote Class Discussion and Peer Interaction.. Staying Connected with Students.. Come Up with Projects Students Can Get Excited About.. Create a Sense of Order and Routine.. |
