How do we create a
more mindful, explorative learning environment?
Collaborative learning, a part of Constructivism, is a model
of teaching that involves exploration, reflection, and ultimate teamwork. Constructivism
focuses on the experience of learning, as opposed to memorized data. This
learning model encourages teachers to utilize curriculum that connects with
students’ past experiences and real-life situations. Incorporating these
connections allow students to apply new concepts to real-life contexts, which
allows for better information retention.
Collaborative learning lives underneath the umbrella of
Constructivism, encouraging students to communicate more often and effectively,
and work together towards common goals. Collaboration in the classroom also
refers to how teachers work together, and incorporates the use of technology in
everyday education. A healthy social life is imperative to student success
throughout childhood and young adulthood. Collaborative activities in the
classroom promote student interaction and the development of healthy social
skills.
This model of learning can also be referred to as “active
learning”, as students become more engaged mentally and/or physically with the
classroom activity. Curriculum used in
active learning draws from students’ backgrounds and individual interests,
giving the information presented context. Many teachers would argue that active
learning teaching students important skills that they can take beyond the
classroom into their futures.
How do we utilize collaborative/active
learning in the classroom?
The following is an
example of a collaborative activity within an art classroom. Drawing
inspiration from a collection of videos from Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art,
and Human Perception, students work in small groups to develop a video of
their own under 2 minutes in duration. These videos will depict any art form of
their choosing. The art form could be crafting, painting, or even performance
art. Upon completion, students will present their videos to one another, as the
other students analyze what makes it art, and all the elements of art utilized
in the video.
The purpose of this
activity is to give students a broader perspective of what art can encompass,
and encourage them to analyze art work of all forms. Using multimedia resources
and group discussions make this activity a true collaborative effort. This will
provide different ways for students to explore art in their own ways and communicate
with their teammates. Finally, this collaborative activity promotes health
socialization and speaking skills through the presentation to other groups, and
the group analysis they will perform on each other’s projects.
Want more information about collaborative
learning strategies?
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