Collaborative approach to learning

A collaborative approach helps promote active learning and engaged learners. It encourages collaboration between the practitioner, the learner (both in a one-to-one and group setting) and among peers when in a small group or classroom setting. This approach shares similar principles with effective approaches for working with adults with learning disabilities. Both approaches encourage active learner involvement in goal-setting and assessment, encourage hands-on learning, and stress the need for relevant learning activities and opportunities to reinforce and generalize the learning.

The facilitator is an equal participant and not the source of information. All members take on active roles, without each person's involvement the group, as a whole cannot meet their goal. When integrating this approach into practice, it should be cautioned to ensure that direct and explicit instruction is provided first. Adults with learning disabilities need to have concrete, explicit instruction on a particular concept before they can use the information in a collaborative approach involving group discussions or problem-solving activities.

Project-based learning is often associated with collaborative learning. This is a learning approach that supports the principles of collaborative learning. It requires the participants to work as a team and the ownership of the project is shared. The learning-by-doing environment keeps adults active and engages them in the learning process. The learning becomes less abstract as learners perform more skills and acquire knowledge.³⁹ Projects can vary in complexity and length depending on the groups' composition. Projects can be as simple as learning how to balance a chequebook or as complex as planning a learner conference. Regardless of the project, the key outcome is that both the learners and facilitator learn new knowledge and skills.⁴⁰