Collaborative & Active Learning

The collaborative learning space can facilitate active learning even more effectively with the use of the right technology (or making the most of existing technology). Building interactive and collaborative classrooms in higher education need not be confined to the classroom per se but rather can be extended beyond the classroom by means of online platforms that provide students with 24-hour access to one another, including their instructor(s). Why is connectivity key? Much of positive and collaborative student learning entails understanding the position of other students, seeing what other students in higher education are going through, understanding that many of the problems that student X is experiencing are similar to, if not exactly the same, as those experienced by student Y.

Instructors opting for the use of collaborative learning platforms, particularly those that are free and are compliant with an abundance of Learning Management Systems (LMS), can foster a deep sense of engagement between students and instructors for a particular class or course, and demonstrate the crucial element of instructor dedication to student learning and achievement. Instructors play a key role in the collaborative and active learning process by establishing the culture of student learning, accommodating their learning needs, and ensuring the classroom functions for its intended purpose, and foster a sense of learning want.