Collaborative learning is student cantered interactive way of gaining knowledge. According to
Smith & MacGregor (1992), it involves joint intellectual effort by students, or students and teachers
mobilising their thoughts in groups and mutually sharing ideas in search for an understanding.
solutions, meanings, or creating a learn products. Through the group activities, the learners gain
a lot from each other by developing effective communication skills, deafening their thoughts as
well as accommodating their peers' views. This is achieved as learners engage in challenging
tasks that does no that requires them to practically engage deeply in order to understand the
problems embedded and come up with practical solutions. This enhances their reasoning and
problem solving skills.
The University of the People have an advanced platform that provides for a mode of instruction
that is community oriented. Learners have class forums where they can post questions,
brainstorm on learning activities and discuss issues related to their courses. Furthermore, learners
are engaged more in peer assessments whereby they are required to assess the work of thee other
peers after submitting their own work (University of the People, n.d.). This enhances the
participation of leaners in class work thus ensuring an understanding and grasp of the course
materials. Other than enhancing learning process, it creates a good environment that promotes
bonding between students and students and instructors.
In the past I have been engaged in collaborative learning activities in outdoor training where we
were given tasks by our instructors to perform as a team. This involved discussing the task given,
formulating a way to solve the tasks and then executing the tasks. This was followed by a
debriefing session where every participant was given a chance to give his views and thoughts
about the activity, critic each other and build on each other's views. I'm therefore glad to find
another opportunity at the University of the People.
References:
Smith, B.L., and J.MacGregor. (1992). Collaborative Learning: A Sourcebook for Higher Education. University Park, PA: National Center on Postsecondary Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (NCTLA). 9-22.
University of the People. (2018). Collaborative and peer to peer learning. Retrieved from https://www.uopeople.edu/student-experience/quality/collaborative-peer-peer-learning