Implementation

• Introduce the learning strategy: explain benefits, process and roles of the instructor and the learners
• Provide handouts on the learning process appropriate to the reading level of learners
• Utilize various team-building activities that are designed to help learners get to know one another and/or to work together
• Provide a learning environment where everyone is valued
• Actively involve the learners in deciding on the topic(s) for discussion
• Encourage learners to draw connections between what they know and what they are learning
• Allow time for ongoing responses
• Utilize practical activities and hands-on materials that are relevant to the real-life experiences of the learners
• Model the strategy to be used and provide only minimum input that helps learners to see new possibilities and new problems⁴⁴

Examples of collaborative learning activities

Jigsaw Groups

Jigsaw groups can have 3 to 6 members. Each member becomes an expert on a subtopic of the material being studied and then teaches the material to the rest of the group. Group members who have the same subtopic meet in "expert" groups to discuss what they are reading and learning. They use resources provided by the practitioner to help them in their exploration of the material. When the members of the expert groups have learned the material, they return to their original groups to share what they have learned. Each group member is responsible for listening and taking notes on the information being presented.

Student Teams Achievement Divisions (STAD)

This strategy combines whole class discussion with small group activity. The practitioner presents new information to the class and then divides the class into teams. Each team should contain students with different levels of ability. Team members help each other learn the new material through discussion, problem-solving and using guide materials provided by the practitioner.