The Importance of Collaboration in the Classroom

The structure of the educational environment has continued to evolve as we advance as a society. When most people would leave school to work in an industrial setting, classrooms were set up to train students to perform in a rigid, time sensitive, and repetitive setting. Nowadays, the world has shifted toward innovation and ideas. In the 21st century, collaboration has become a key component in both school and the workplace, and its influence on learning is undeniable. Schools are moving away from the traditional teacher-centered approaches to more collaborative, student-centered practices. This shift not only reflects changes in pedagogy but is also supported by several psychological theories such as Sociocultural Theory, Situated Learning Theory, Social Learning Theory, and Constructivism. These theories weave together to highlight how collaboration helps students develop a deeper understanding of content, critical thinking, and social skills.

A collaborative classroom has students working within groups of varying skills and experiences. As students work together, they rely on one another to help support individual weaknesses on the group members. This aligns with Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory, where “human learning is largely a social process, and that our cognitive functions are formed based on our interactions with those around us who are ‘more skilled’ (Cherry, 2024).” In a group setting, students are able to take on the role of a “More Knowledgeable Other” to help their team members improve their level of understanding within their Zone of Proximal Development. A great example of this is the Jigsaw method, where students separate to each learn one aspect of a topic, then use their knowledge to help teach their peers. Working in small groups allows all of the students to benefit from the collective intelligence of the group, with each student bringing their own unique perspective and experiences.

This idea of learning by expanding upon experiences brings Piaget’s theory of Constructivism into view as well, stating that students build new knowledge by connecting it to their prior experiences (Cherry, 2023). Collaboration is key to this process, as it provides a platform for students to test their ideas, reflect on their thinking, and revise their understanding based on information provided by the other group members. Students in a math class may explore different strategies for solving a problem by using their prior knowledge and experiences as a roadmap to guide their decisions. These shared insights may help a struggling student comprehend a strategy more effectively than they would by simply following a teacher's instructions.

As they work with their peers, students are exposed to different ways of thinking, work ethics and behaviors. For those who may struggle, a collaborative environment may be beneficial for them based on Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. People learn behaviors, strategies, and skills by watching others and modeling their actions (Cherry, 2024). As they work together, students are able to witness others successfully completing a task, solving a problem, or communicating ideas. For students who may have low self-esteem or struggle to voice their misunderstandings, these observations can motivate them to reproduce those behaviors, leading to a boost in their confidence level. As they receive feedback, encouragement, and support from the other members of their group, students will be able to take those behaviors and continue to apply them in other collaborative environments beyond a classroom setting. Being able to engage respectfully in discussions, share ideas, and navigate through disagreements are necessary skills for success in both academic, professional, and personal life.

Collaboration in the classroom continues to provide students the opportunity to learn and apply skills in real-life settings. Lave and Wenger’s Situated Learning Theory discusses the importance of collaboration in the learning process by claiming that “the physical and social contexts in which an activity takes place are an integral part of the activity, and that the activity is an integral part of the learning that takes place within it (Putnam & Borko, 2000).” For example, students participating in project-based learning are given authentic tasks that culminate in a public product that will be presented to a larger audience than just their teachers and instructors. As students construct their product, they must continually learn from each other, apply their content knowledge to the current situation, and gain practical experience as they do so. In this way, students are able to engage more with their learning, as the context has shifted from performing for a grade to performing for others, making it more meaningful and transferable to future situations. These students are doing more than just memorizing facts, but are learning how to think, communicate, and solve problems together.

As a teacher, I’ve been trying to integrate more collaboration into my classroom. I want my students to learn more than just the content I teach them, but also develop critical social, emotional, and cognitive skills. With society as it is now, being able to successfully work with others is just as important as knowing the information of whatever field they choose to pursue after they graduate.

References:

Cherry, K. (2024, July 15). How social learning theory works. verywell mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/social-learning-theory-2795074

Cherry, K. (2023, November 13). Jean Piaget biography (1896 - 1980). verywell mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/jean-piaget-biography-1896-1980-2795549

Cherry, K. (2024, July 12). What is sociocultural theory?. verywell mind.

Putnam, R. T., & Borko, H. (2000). What do new views of knowledge and thinking have to say about research on teacher learning? Educational Researcher, 29(1), 4-15.

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Wix. Professor with students [Photograph]. Wix. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4f5540dee1414627abaacf80791ab162.jpg/v1/fill/w_525,h_350,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/4f5540dee1414627abaacf80791ab162.jpg

Wix. Students [Photograph]. Wix. https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_f062a107e0d548ca91fb8731b7b4456e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_525,h_350,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/11062b_f062a107e0d548ca91fb8731b7b4456e~mv2.jpg