- Funded Projects: Effective Teaching Using Collaborative Learning Strategies 2005-2006, Faculty of Community Services
Faculty of Community Services projects funded by Strategic Investment, including creation of web-based communication technology, conflict management, EduBlogging, and a group contract comparison study.
- Other Collaborative Learning Practices from Ryerson Community and Beyond
Collaborative learning activities conducted by other Ryerson faculty and other universities, including stories, findings, outcomes, lessons learned, and sample of instruments.
- Services Available at Ryerson University for Collaborative Learning
Workshop and seminars offered by the LTO for faculty and Successful Learning Groups organized by the Learning Success Centre for students.
- Selected Resources for Faculty and Students Related to Collaborative Learning
Selected resources, including guidelines, toolkits, strategies, tips, and frequently asked questions with possible solutions on a variety of issues in collaborative learning.
Students and peers learning together has become a necessity within higher education. Research by Barkley, Cross and Major* suggests several reasons to support students learning in groups:
- Meaningful and lasting learning occurs through personal, active engagement.
- Students need to assimilate information into their own understandings rather than simply have information transmitted to them.
- Many employers value willingness and readiness to engage in productive teamwork.
- An increasingly diverse society requires engaged citizens who can appreciate and benefit from different perspectives. Universities want to provide greater opportunities for a wider variety of students to develop as life-long learners.
In most courses it is expected that students will participate in a group in order to meet a course requirement. It is also often expected that students will work together constructively and collaboratively. Since harmony in groups is not always the case, the following categorized resources will be of assistance to faculty who wish to provide constructive responses to students working together in groups, as well as to students who wish to learn how to work effective achieve team common goals.
Ryerson’s institutional mission of fully engaging students in the curriculum and enhancing their undergraduate or graduate experience can be realized through meaningful learning activities, including group work.
The Learning and Teaching Office will be pleased to consult on assignment design, or development of strategies to support collaborative learning initiatives.
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* Barkley, E.F., Cross, K.P. & Major, C.H. (2005). Collaborative Learning Techniques. Jossey-Bass.
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