Great teaching techniques: Collaborative learning

In the right context, and well planned, collaborative learning (or group work) can be an effective activity to complement direct teacher instruction. What does it mean? Learning to work collaboratively to solve problems, come to a consensus or create a group performance/presentation is an important academic and social skill, which needs to be taught explicitly. Collaborative learning is best used to complement teacher-led instruction. Group work is not suitable for all situations: where the priority is that students learn specific information to a required level of rigour or depth, for example, direct teacher instruction will usually prove more effective than collaborative approaches. In scenarios where it may help groups achieve more than they could as individuals – for example, by evaluating evidence through extended discussion or solving a problem – group work can yield positive outcomes. What are the implications for teachers? Explicitly teach students how to be effec