Read To Learn

UNIT 6: Group Work and Collaborative Learning

Key Words/Phrases	Definition
Collaboration	Working together to achieve something.
Ethical	Knowing what is right and what is wrong behaviour; morally right and good behaviour.
Integral	Necessary and essential.
Strategically	With careful thought and planning, to achieve the desired goal.

Introduction

This unit introduces Group Work and Collaborative Learning. Successful collaboration in schools can be practised by everyone; teachers, Head Teachers, learners, and parents. This unit focuses on collaboration between learners.  It looks at the concept of home teams/learning teams (described below) and different strategies for effective group learning including peer marking. 

How this unit links to the Competence Based Curriculum

Cooperation, interpersonal management and life skills are three of the primary competences included in the curriculum framework of the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC). Learners at all levels are expected to demonstrate during the learning process the following competences: 

• Cooperating with others as a team in whatever task assigned
• Adapting to different situations including the world of work
• Demonstrating a sense of personal and social responsibility and making ethical decisions and judgments
• Practising respect for the rights, views and feelings of others

Beginning in pre-primary and continuing throughout primary, middle and secondary school, learners are encouraged to collaborate and cooperate with each other and their teachers. In the CBC, primary learners are also expected to “engage cooperatively with other children and demonstrate the ability to resolve conflicts with peers”. These competences provide the foundation for secondary learners who are expected to explore, analyse, discuss, appreciate and justify the reality of global communication and interdependence.
Group work and collaborative learning are integral to Peace and Values Education. These methods promote teachers as being “Guides on the Side'' rather than “Sages on the Stage”. Group work and collaboration are essential for building more peaceful families, communities, societies and, ultimately, a more peaceful world.

Source: Competence-Based Curriculum, Curriculum Framework Pre-Primary to Upper Secondary, 2015, Final version, page 23.