Collaborative learning, where pupils learn and attempt tasks in pairs or groups, can be an effective tool to support individual learning. It is important that collaborative learning opportunities are designed carefully and appropriately. While there are major benefits to group work, there are also significant risks if implemented poorly.
Benefits and dangers of group work:
As you watch this video of classroom practice, consider how the teacher:
Gives pupils specific roles to avoid the dangers of the social aspects of collaboration
Provides a model for pupils to activate prior knowledge ahead of their practising
Whether you’re establishing approaches for collaboration for the first time or reviewing your existing methods, take some time to reflect on what the teacher has done, how they've done it, what they might have done differently, and how this might influence your own practice.
References
Campbell R and Bokhove C (2019) Building Learning Cul
Video
Routines in a music classroom
Robert Marzano suggests that ‘it is simply not possible for a teacher to conduct instruction for children to work productively if they have no guidelines
