Collaborative learning

supervisors: Hannie gijlers, Alieke van dijk, Pantelis papadopoulos, reza farrokhnia & lily chen

Collaboration (or cooperation) is a method that is often utilized in everyday classroom practice and is widely recognized as a way to enhance learning. The positive effects of collaboration are explained by the fact that students provide arguments and explanations so that their partner is able to understand and evaluate their ideas and plans. The process of externalization of thoughts and ideas is believed to increase students’ awareness of flaws and inconsistencies in their own reasoning or theories and to stimulate students to revisit their initial ideas.

Collaborative learning can take place in a face-to-face setting but also in computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments. In CSCL environments students use ICT-based tools to collaboratively construct knowledge and solve problems together.

However, collaboration is not always effective. It is not self-evident that students who work together will engage in the cognitive processes that are needed to enhance learning. Several studies reveal that collaborating students may only rarely engage in task- focused interactions. Therefore, it is interesting to analyse how collaborative learning can be supported with tools and scaffolds in order for frequent task-focused and high quality interactions between students to occur.

Example research questions within this theme:

Topics

Creative thinking skills

Do you see what I see? Learning by studying and discussing images

Green minds: Assessing the effectiveness of collaborative learning in Go-Lab climate simulations

Social benefits of collaborative learning methods

Student preferences in collaborative learning methods

Visualizing the group process to support equal participation of group members in cooperative learning

What does it take to participate in a group?