Collaborative learning how to use it in your classroom

Collaborative Learning: How to Use It In Your Classroom

The phrase “collaborative learning” refers to a broad range of pedagogical strategies that involve student work or the combined intellectual work of students and their teachers. Students typically work in groups of two or more, producing a product or collaboratively seeking insight, answers, or meanings. Let’s explore the importance of collaborative learning in health education, the benefits of student and educator experience, and how to incorporate this learning into your curriculum.  

Importance of Collaborative Learning in Healthcare Programs 

Collaborative learning is indispensable in healthcare programs for learning in the classroom and for future roles in increasingly complex, constantly changing healthcare organizations.  

In the classroom, collaborative learning helps students decrease their cognitive load to learn and retain more information than if they were to work individually or listen to a lecture. Outside of the classroom, collaborative learning equips students with essential skills, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and fosters a culture of lifelong learning, preparing students to deliver high-quality patient care as professionals.  

Additionally, the more students are involved in collaborative learning in the classroom, the more they’ll be prepared to utilize it in their professional roles. Research shows collaborative learning leads to more resilient healthcare organizations. 

According to a 2023 CDC report, high levels of burnout and professionals reporting the likelihood of leaving their jobs were present before the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to rise. Therefore, building resilience is vital for healthcare professionals to manage stress, manifesting as burnout, absenteeism, increased mistakes and accidents, or even leaving the field. Overall, collaborative learning provides multiple benefits for students and educators.  

Benefits for Learners and Teachers 

Collaborative learning prepares students for the multifaceted and dynamic nature of healthcare environments. This pedagogical approach fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. 

Benefits for Students 

  • Enhanced Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Collaborative learning encourages students to engage in discussions, question assumptions, and consider multiple perspectives. This interaction helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, essential in healthcare settings where complex and dynamic situations often arise. 
  •  Improved Communication and Teamwork: Working in groups helps learners improve their communication skills and learn the importance of teamwork. These skills are crucial in healthcare, where effective communication and collaboration among professionals are necessary for high-quality patient care.  
  • Increased Knowledge Retention and Understanding: Collaborative learning often involves peer teaching, where learners explain concepts to one another. This active participation and repeated exposure to the material from different viewpoints enhances understanding and retention of knowledge. 

While the advantages for students are substantial, collaborative learning also offers significant benefits for educators, enhancing their teaching practices and professional growth. 

Benefits for Educators  

  • Improved Student Assessment: Collaborative learning allows teachers to assess students more holistically. Through group activities and peer interactions, teachers evaluate a range of skills, such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and academic understanding. This multifaceted assessment provides a more comprehensive view of individual students’ abilities and progress. 
  •  Better Insight into Student Understanding and Misconceptions: Teachers gain a deeper understanding of students’ thought processes, knowledge levels, and misconceptions through observing group interactions and listening to discussions. This insight allows them to tailor their teaching approaches to better meet the needs of their students. 
  •  Enhanced Classroom Dynamics and Student Engagement: Collaborative learning creates a more dynamic and interactive classroom environment. Engaged and active learners are more likely to participate in discussions, ask questions, and take an interest in the subject matter, making the teaching experience more rewarding and effective. 

With a clear understanding of the benefits collaborative learning offers to both students and educators, the next step is to explore practical strategies for effectively implementing this approach in the curriculum. 

An instructors points at a screen with an Osmosis logo on it in front of a group of students sitting in the front of the classroom taking notes on their laptops.

Implementing Collaborative Learning in Your Curriculum 

The Osmosis health education platform offers a wide variety of resources that seamlessly incorporate into your collaborative learning strategies. Group activities are an effective way to get students to work together and exchange ideas. Below are some methods to implement Osmosis in your classroom group activities. 

Play a Video and Pause to Discuss 

In the classroom, learning activities can be reinforced using the Osmosis library. One example of a group exercise is splitting students into smaller groups and giving them specific Osmosis videos to watch on a given subject. Following their group review, students can participate in class discussions, present their findings, and work together to solve problems related to the module or video.  

Present a Question and Answer 

Students can participate in an additional group exercise where a question from Osmosis is displayed, and then students are divided into small groups. Students can debate it in their groups and give their ideas for the solution, along with an explanation of why. They can also talk about the responses they think are wrong and share why they believe that. It’s important to understand why a response is incorrect as much as why the proper answer is. 

Peer Teaching and Learning Projects 

In peer teaching projects, students are assigned topics relevant to their curriculum and required to teach them to their classmates. This activity can be structured with students working in pairs or small groups to research their assigned topic, create teaching materials, and present their findings to the class. A collaborative approach like this fosters a deeper understanding of the material and promotes a culture of mutual learning and support. 

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Collaborative Learning Activities 

Evaluating the effectiveness of collaborative learning activities is crucial for ensuring their impact on student development. One method is conducting pre- and post-activity assessments to measure the knowledge and skills gained through the activities. Student satisfaction surveys also provide insights into how engaging and beneficial students find the collaborative learning process.  

Additionally, analyzing student performance on exams and in clinical settings reveals the practical benefits of collaborative learning, highlighting improvements in critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills essential for health professionals. Educators can refine their collaborative learning strategies to maximize their effectiveness when using these evaluation methods. 

The Future of Collaborative Learning 

Incorporating collaborative learning into healthcare education is not just a beneficial approach but an essential one. According to studies, healthcare students can learn as much from their peers as from skilled teachers if collaborative learning is used correctly. It equips students with critical skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, which are crucial in dynamic healthcare environments. For educators, it offers enhanced classroom dynamics, better student engagement, and comprehensive assessment opportunities.  

Leveraging resources like the Osmosis from Elsevier health education platform allows educators to implement effective collaborative learning strategies that prepare students for real-world healthcare challenges. 

Interested in learning how Osmosis can support collaborative learning in your program? Schedule a call today

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