Collaborative learning involves groups of learners working together to solve a problem, complete a task or create a product. It’s based on the idea that learning is a naturally social act which occurs though active engagement among peers, either face-to-face or online.

Collaborative learning involves the learning task being divided and asking group members to work sequentially on different aspects of the project. Collaborative learning activities create opportunities for students to:

• Engage in subject-specific discussions with peers.
• Learn how to work cooperatively and support each other.
• Develop effective teamwork and communication (including interpersonal and cross-cultural awareness) skills.
• Assimilate multiple views to deepen knowledge and promote critical thinking.
• Foster individual accountability to the team.
• Develop independent learning strategies.
• Structure out-of-class learning.
• Mitigate learner isolation.

Online collaboration brings additional benefits of flexibility, managing student participation and behaviour, trackability and student autonomy.