Collaborative Learning
Reviewed and updated: January 2008
This page has been kept for reference.
It will no longer be updated by ICVET.
Collaborative Learning is a form of peer learning, where learners work together in groups on the same task simultaneously. They think together and tackle the complexities of a problem while sharing the creation and/or discovery. This approach is closely related to cooperative learning, but is considered to be more radical.
Learning pairs, learning partnerships and study groups are common examples of collaborative learning. Extensive research supports the idea that adults can provide assistance to each other while they learn different things.
Websites
Leap into Collaborative Learning
Developed for University of Adelaide staff, this document provides a comprehensive overview of the what, why and how of collaborative learning, with an emphasis on a pragmatic approach.
Collaborative Learning: Group Work and Study Teams
Excerpt from the hard copy book Tools for Teaching by Barbara Gross Davis. Here you will find information on general strategies, designing group work, organising learning groups, evaluating group work, setting up study teams and dealing with concerns about group work.
Collaborative Learning Enhances Critical Thinking
This report compares the results of collaborative learning to skill and drill learning. It contains a concise definition of collaborative learning and a host of information that could help you persuade others that collaborative learning will improve trainer's skills in delivery training.
IASCE
The International Association for the Study of Cooperation in Education (IASCE) is an organisation for educators who research and practice cooperative learning in order to promote student academic improvement and democratic, social processes.
The Cooperative Learning Network
An information-rich website maintained by an association of colleagues who model, share, support, and advocate for the use of cooperative learning.
The Online Collaborative Learning in Higher Education
This website from Central Queensland University is devoted to best practice in online collaborative learning in higher education. Here you'll find links to online articles, books, journals, and other relevant information.
DeLiberations– Collaborative Learning
A brief discussion on collaborative learning, this website links to several papers, including ‘Collaborative vs Cooperative Learning’ and ‘How does Collaborative Learning actually work and how do students react to it?’ Don’t miss the link at the bottom of the page to a listing of annotated external links.
Wikipedia - Collaborative Learning
Wikipedia overview of Collaborative Learning and links to related entries and websites.
Publications
SCOPE
A program developed to support Workplace Learning, which includes 11 booklets and a facilitator’s resource book. While the target group is high school teachers, this kit is inexpensive and provides easy to follow advice about action research, reflective practice and journaling. Available from:
Centre of Curriculum and Professional Development
Murdoch University
South St
Murdoch WA 6150
Ph 08 9360 6263
BARKLEY, E, Cross, P K & Major, C H 2004, Collaborative Learning Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty, Jossey-Bass, USA.
This handbook guides teachers through all aspects of group work, providing information on what to do, how to do it and why it is important to student learning. The authors present detailed procedures for thirty collaborative learning techniques (CoLTs) and offer practical suggestions for putting collaborative learning into action.
NUNAN, D 1992, Collaborative Language Learning and Teaching (Cambridge Language Teaching Library), Cambridge University Press, UK.
A book for teachers, learners, educators, and researchers interested in experimenting with alternative ways of organising teaching and learning. Presenting current theory and resources related to collaborative learning, the author promotes a philosophy of cooperation where all can work together and learn from one another.