5_1 Collaborative Education

How does the idea of everyone sharing knowledge in a collaborative environment affect the model of teaching and learning?

Two people who read the same content will often grasp different ideas from that reading. Two people who go through the same experience can have two very different perceptions of that experience. But when those two people share their thoughts and ideas, that collaboration promotes deeper thinking. Collaborative education does just that. It gives students who are grouped together the chance to learn how to work together. They learn how to compromise and problem solve since they are in a group. In a world where technology is changing our lives so quickly, future workers need to be agile and creative and innovative. Learning how to collaborate during the younger years in school will help to prepare students for future jobs they may have.

For teachers, it opens up a whole new way to assess student learning. They are no longer just getting “answers” to questions, but through the deeper conversations, they can see how students are coming to those conclusions. It also gives teachers a powerful way to teach social development which is something that has recently been virtually ignored. Perhaps the greatest effect of a collaborative environment is that it allows the students to gain control of their learning and have a greater sense of community within a classroom. This leads to greater self-confidence in students which greatly affects a child’s ability to learn and thrive at school.