Collaborative Learning

The terms group work, collaborative learning, and cooperative learning describe similar approaches to student participation in learning. All involve students working together -- in short-term problem solving exercises, long-term projects, and numerous variations in between. This section collects resources that address ideas for and issues involved in engaging students in group, collaborative, and cooperative learning experiences.


Articles


Books


Websites

Cooperative Learning is a comprehensive guide to incorporating collaborative learning activities and group work into undergraduate courses. It considers how and why collaborative learning works, the continuum of collaborative approaches, the roles and tasks of instructors and students in collaborative activities, and grading group projects. In addition, the site describes how teachers can approach creating groups, factors that make groups work, and why they fail.

Teaching with Collaborative Activities and Small Groups looks at the educational goals and outcomes common to all collaborative activities, how to prepare effective collaborative experiences, and how to prepare students for group work.

Commonly Asked Questions about Teaching Collaborative Activities takes a FAQ approach to explaining when collaborative and group projects are appropriate, helping students learn to work in groups, dealing with group conflict, and grading the process and final product.

Collaborative Learning Techniques provides presentation slides and helpful handout from a workshop led by Bill Cerbin at the University of Wisconsin, La-Crosse. This resource provides a detailed framework and sample forms for collaborative work. 

The Case for Student Centered Instruction Via Collaborative Learning Paradigms. Need convincing that collaborative learning approaches are beneficial? Visit this compendium of academic, social and other benefits to students. 

View the GVSU General Education Faculty Resources page for information on how to teach this General Education Program student learning outcome.

 

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Page last modified November 9, 2022