How technology powers effective collaboration in the classroom

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What does a classroom that’s buzzing with engagement look like? Learners are likely sharing ideas, solving problems as a team, creating something new and building relationships along the way. Not only does collaboration make learning more meaningful, but it develops skills that are essential for the workplace. Even better is that technology can transform a classroom into a space where collaboration happens every day. With the right tools, educators can easily create engaging, real-world collaborative learning experiences.

This blog post will explore the best tools and strategies to promote collaboration in the classroom.

The power of collaborative learning

Collaborative learning, also known as cooperative learning, happens when students work in pairs or in small groups. They might brainstorm, share perspectives, solve problems, build something or conduct research. The goal is for each learner to participate and be engaged. You can ask learners to form their own groups based on shared interests, or you can create groups with diverse interests or abilities. 

Why collaborative learning in the classroom is important

Cornell University writes, “Research shows that educational experiences that are active, social, contextual, engaging, and student-owned lead to deeper learning.”

When students collaborate, they build self-confidence, social and emotional skills, leadership capabilities and higher-level thinking skills. These classroom experiences are practice for life beyond school. By working with classmates, they gain skills that will help them become a successful team member in any career they choose. 

Five benefits of collaborative learning

There are several benefits of collaborative learning. Here are five of the most valuable benefits.

1. Builds relationships

When learners are placed in groups and asked to discuss, research, solve problems, investigate or create something new, they get an opportunity to build relationships with their peers. They learn how to share responsibilities, take on roles and treat each other with respect.

2. Encourages active listening

Collaboration also gives learners practice with active listening. 

Harvard Business Review wrote that active listening requires empathy and self-awareness. “It turns a conversation into an active, non-competitive, two-way interaction.” 

With scaffolding and opportunities to practice, learners can start to develop this skill.

3. Improves communication skills

Working in a team also gives learners a chance to develop communication skills. Many learners may find this challenging at first, practicing in school prepares them to communicate effectively in a professional setting.

4. Promotes critical thinking

In a collaborative environment, learners hear new perspectives that may challenge their own thinking. By discussing ideas, tackling problems together, learners evaluate concepts and create new solutions.

5. Activates engagement

Collaborative learning gives students the chance to be in the driver’s seat. They are the ones leading their learning and being accountable for what is happening in their group. This leads to greater engagement and a stronger connection to the class material.

Technology tools that foster collaboration

Collaboration in the classroom combined with technology gives learners real-world experience that they’ll need when for any job. The following tools give learners the opportunity to collaborate more easily and express their creativity.

1. Google Workspace for Education (Docs, Slides, Drawings)

Learners can show their understanding in a variety of ways with shared Google files. They can create presentations together, co-design concept maps in real time or write essays together. Check out these ideas for incorporating Google Docs.

2. Padlet

Padlet allows learners to collaborate on a digital board or sandbox to visually showcase what they know. Learners can post ideas, images and links.

3. Seesaw

Seesaw is a digital portfolio or learning journal for K-6 students. It allows them to view each other’s work and add peer feedback, which helps them build a positive classroom community.

4. Canva for Education

Canva for Education allows educators and learners to design group projects, from infographics and posters to presentations and videos, within a collaborative and easy-to-use space.

5. BookCreator

BookCreator is another type of digital portfolio where students can create multimedia books showcasing their learning. Educators and peers can also collaborate on the books.

6. Soundtrap

Soundtrap is a tool for creating music and podcasts. It’s a great option for student groups who gravitate toward auditory learning, allowing them to collaborate on audio projects.

7. Hāpara Highlights

Hāpara Highlights is a tool that helps with classroom management while learners are online during class. Educators can send website links and Google Classroom content directly to groups, which open instantly on their browsers, keeping the collaborative group on the same page.

8. Hāpara Teacher Dashboard

Hāpara Teacher Dashboard is a dashboard that shows educators all the Google files learners have recently accessed, including collaborative work. It allows educators to quickly preview a file and leave formative feedback for the entire group to see.

9. Hāpara Workspace

Hāpara Workspace is an interactive platform that organizes all learning content for a lesson or project. Educators can create differentiated student groups and share collaborative resources and assessments based on each group’s needs. 

Tips for implementing collaborative technology

When choosing which technology tools to use for student collaboration, there are a few things to consider and implement to ensure success. Consider these factors when selecting collaborative technology for your school or district.

1. Classroom technology needs to be easy to use.

Technology needs to be user-friendly so it can support learning rather than hinder it. It needs to allow educators and learners the chance to focus on collaboration, not on figuring out how to use it.

2. Collaborative tools should support differentiation.

The best collaborative tools allow for differentiation. Educators should be able to use technology to support cooperative groups based on academic ability, interests or learning styles. Every learner needs to be supported and even challenged.

3. Instructional software should allow for flexibility.

Classroom technology should be flexible so educators can adapt it to their own teaching styles, subjects and grade levels. 

Strategies for promoting positive student group dynamics

When you ask learners to work in pairs or small groups, setting them up for a positive experience is crucial.

1. Make the goals clear to all learners

Learners need to clearly understand the objective of the collaborative activity. Make these goals visible to the entire class or specific groups.

2. Set guidelines about how to work together

Provide guidelines for communication during partner and group work. This could include how to build upon ideas, respectfully disagree and share responsibilities equitably. 

For example, if learners need a reminder while collaborating, in Hāpara Highlights, educators can send a digital announcement to groups or the class or share a link to a resource on communication.

3. Assign each learner a role in the group

In a group activity or discussion, here are roles that can learners clear direction:

• Facilitator who manages the activity or discussion
• Notetaker who keeps a list of discussion points, ideas and responses
• Time keeper who ensures the team stays on task
• Prioritizer who makes sure everyone sticks to the topic
• Reporter who presents to the class
• Reviewer who double-checks that the team’s responses are backed up with evidence
• Questioner who asks the team to think more deeply and offers other perspectives

4. Incorporate real-world tasks

Pair and group activities are also more meaningful if learners tackle real-world issues. For instance, this middle school Workspace asks pairs and groups to explore several digital citizenship scenarios that apply to their age group. 

Examples of collaborative learning activities

There are many ways to incorporate technology and collaboration in the classroom. Here are a few that boosted engagement in my own classroom, plus some that have been successful for other educators.

1. Literature circles

My seventh grade ELA class read novels in groups and met in collaborative literature circles to discuss ideas, analyze vocabulary and the plot and evaluate character motivations. In Hāpara Workspace, you can add differentiated prompts and activities that are only visible to group members. You can also easily share collaborative Google Docs with them where they can add their group responses.

2. Collaborative timelines

My seventh grade social studies class focused on medieval world history, and I was determined to make it engaging. One area where learners struggled was understanding which events across the world were taking place at the same time. 

To understand historical events, have groups create collaborative timelines using a tool like Google Drawings or Sheets. This project helps them visualize cause and effect, identify patterns and understand how events across the world connect.

If a group needs help researching events, in Hāpara Highlights, you can also share a link that will immediately open on the group members’ devices.

3. Video projects

There will likely be several learning styles in your class, and some students will gravitate toward video projects. In an eighth grade ELA class, my learners explored collaborative projects of their choice based on a historical fiction novel. 

With a partner or small group, they studied a topic of their choice and presented a final collaborative project. Some groups chose video projects, and because they were engaged, the results were impressive and creative. 

In Hāpara Workspace, you can add a card that asks learners to upload their video file or add a link to the video. Because learners can add their own media, Workspace becomes a truly collaborative space.

4. Audio projects

Some groups may want to pursue audio projects, such as creating a song that ties into class material or a collaborative podcast episode. They can collaborate on a script, record interviews and edit audio to create a final product that demonstrates their understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the benefits of collaboration in the classroom?
Collaboration in the classroom helps learners develop 21st-century skills. It improves communication, develops critical thinking, builds positive relationships, encourages active listening and boosts learning engagement.

How does technology support learning collaboration?
Technology makes it easier for educators to create collaborative learning experiences. It also gives students the ability to work together in real time and create innovative projects through shared documents, digital boards and multimedia apps.

What are some examples of digital tools that make it easier for educators to support collaborative learning in the classroom?
Hāpara offers classroom management tools that help educators share collaborative documents and resources, support differentiation and provide feedback to learning groups.