Collaboration in the classroom

Pedagogical practices have evolved significantly during the last decade, with technology and teaching methods bringing greater interactivity into lessons. As we move further into a collaborative world generally, the principles and personality traits gained from peer-to-peer education and engagement are more important than ever to prepare students for the workplace.

A recent study by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) showed that nearly half of employers said graduates generally don’t have the workplace skills they need when they are first hired. On average, one in four graduates (25%) do not possess the skills required when they enter the job market. The lack of ‘soft skills’ include self-awareness, problem-solving, interpersonal skills and teamwork, all of which could be gained during education.

For students to learn these soft skills, the focus lies on improving collaboration. Current collaborative learning activities vary widely across the educational landscape, however most centre on the student’s exploration or application of the curriculum, not solely on the teacher’s presentation of it. Technological solutions can complement teachers’ evolving methods and help educators to take students’ creativity, critical thinking and collaboration to the next level.