13 January 2015 / by Vincent Chieppa

Collaborative learning: "Working together is success"

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

Who would have thought that this quote by Henry Ford also applies to teaching!?  It sure stands true for collaborative learning where students are responsible for one another's learning as well as their own.

This is done by getting small groups working together on a structured activity. If we unpack this definition, we can see that students are in the driver´s seat with this approach to teaching.  Students work together in groups – harnessing each person´s skills and knowledge – in order to solve a specific problem and/or to obtain a specific learning goal. It therefore not only celebrates the diversity between learners and acknowledges individual differences, but it also promotes interpersonal development among your students while making space for more personal feedback. All of this could lead to collaborative learning scenarios where students

  1. teach one another with the knowledge they have,

  2. develop thought showers / brainstorming,

  3. are given a chunk of information (of a common topic) that they have to share with the others,

  4. share past experiences, and/or

  5. fulfill a specific role in the classroom.


There is an abundance of activities that frame collaborative learning.  Here you will find some tried and tested examples eliciting just how different the student´s role is in the classroom. It is evident that seeing that the role of the student changes, so does the teacher´s role.

The teacher now truly becomes a playmaker.  This means that she/he creates a conducive learning environment that ensures that all students participate actively and freely in group work while guaranteeing that learning is now the shared responsibility of the students (and not the solely that of the teacher).  The teacher can do this by setting group goals, promoting mutual respect and use individual accountability. The latter refers to getting students to commit to their own learning and growth.  In collaborative learning situations, students are not simply taking in new information or ideas - they are using their personal skills in order to create something new with the information and ideas.  Now, if collaborative learning isn´t empowerment true to Ford´s approach to innovation, then I don´t know what is.




Make use of the following links to further expand your knowledge collaborative learning on this exciting approach to teaching:

27

October 2017
The teachers are in the epicentre of the Oxinity growth model
by Jonatan Buxeda
Today I'd like to share what we have...

17

October 2017
Frustration of Students: Common Scenarios and How to Manage Them
by Jushua Cutts
‘’Mistakes are he portals to discovery’’ Frustration is defined as the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something. This is a common feeling that ...

06

October 2017
Teaching kids: challenges and winning strategies
by Gabriel Ekoe González
In an increasing demand for English classes,  important points to consider when teaching kids are how to teach also what makes a good kids’ activity. Perhaps the most important thing to consider when teaching kids is their attenti...

04

July 2017
10 Real Reasons to do a TEFL Course in Spain
by Radmila Gurkova
TEFL Course in Spain - The time is now! July and August are the best months to decide to make the step into sunshine by signing yourself up to a TEFL course in September here in Spain. It's the perfect time to start something new. If you are a native English speaker or bilingual and you have an upbeat,...

04

July 2017
7 Tips on Giving Feedback to ESL Teachers
by Peter Nesbitt
Giving feedback to ESL teachers can be tricky, particularly when you have something critical to say. But yet it is also important, as without it, how can people learn? Sure, they can rely on their own self-evaluation of how they are doing, but if you have ever watched any TV talent show, you will see that a lot of people just aren't very good...

21

June 2017
Teacher Talks - Sharing expertise and experience
by Ryan Beaudelaire
Teacher Talks - Sharing expertise and experiences Things worth sharing We´ve had something up our sleeve for the last few weeks and we´re ready to do what we love and sha...

06

June 2017
Level testing: How to test a student's level?
by Ryan Beaudelaire
Level testing: How do you do it? Level testing...... Ooooh, lets talk! Unless you've been asked that awkward question outright: 'What level am I?' You won't know what's it like to to be a deer in the headlights and respond with something really daft in a high pitched voice like.... 'Yeah, really good!' Li...

02

June 2017
Teaching beginners: is translating really necessary?
by Radmila Gurkova
A big debate around teaching beginners has always been whether it is necessary or not to translate into the learners' mother tongue. Opinions are split and vary from definitely not to maybe sometimes yes or, in the other extreme, of course yes, translating is fast and effective. Translating seems straightforward and historically it has bee...

18

May 2017
Masterclass in ESL at Oxbridge to share and learn about expertise areas
by Gracia Guzmán
The Oxbridge English Teaching System (OETS) is made out of a wide and wide community of teachers from different countries and backgrounds. Offering a masterclass in ESL for different areas of expertise was necessary and easy at the same time, having in mind the richness of profiles of our community members. This is why we are currently devoti...

02

May 2017
Move to Spain - Have my life! It´s easy
by Ryan Beaudelaire
Move to Spain - Have my life! It´s easy! Last Sunday, this is how we spent our Sunday afternoon, chillin' up the Mountain at Montserrat! Just another mountaintop Benedictine monastery you know! ...