Collaboration is a ingredient for an effective learning environment

My reflections after literature readings


What attributes constitute "effective learning environment"?. This is a question which has kept educational researchers pondering for decades. In a quest for answers, recent research literatures seems to be supporting a common theme, that is: social interaction amongst learners plays an important part in the learning process; in fact, it can have a significant impact on learning outcomes.

Collaboration is one of an essential ingredient to create an "effective learning environment" as it provides learners with the opportunity to discuss, argue, negotiate and reflect upon existing beliefs and knowledge. The learner gets involved in constructing own knowledge through a process of discussion and interaction with teachers and fellow classmates.There is a need to have a purpose for the collaboration and the purpose needs to be meaningful to the learner. Thus it is important that an appropriate context is set for the collaborative activity, for example, assigning a "real world" task for learners or a problem to which all learners can relate. In addition to setting the context, there needs to be a environment through which collaboration can take place. In traditional face-to-face educational settings, collaboration mostly occurs through conversation, that is, individuals interacting with one another.

Therefore, in terms of creating an effective learning environment, four attributes surface as being important:

1) Providing opportunities to foster personal construction of knowledge.
2) Setting an appropriate context for the learning.
3) Facilitating collaboration amongst learners.

Thank you