Collaboration in Secondary School Classroom

Abstract

Abstract

Collaboration and group work has a positive effect on the social and cognitive development of students. There is a need to understand the practices of collaborative learning to successfully create authentic student centered and collaborative learning environment. The study focused on identifying the factors that underlined the positive outcomes of collaborative learning and the impact of collaborative environment on students’ participation in a secondary school classroom. Primary data was collected directly through questionnaires given out to secondary level students in two braches of the same school in Islamabad. Questionnaire given out to students focused on their perception of collaborative learning in classroom and how it affects their learning and participation. The study uses descriptive analysis to identify the factors that have an impact on student learning when using collaboration. The students in their responses have highlighted that even when they understand the effectiveness of collaboration, there are gaps in use of collaborative strategies in the class. The research has helped in accentuating the complexities of the practice of collaboration and emphasizes a need to further research for better understanding and effective implementation of collaborative strategies in teaching.