Learning Strategies

How teachers can increase classroom collaboration

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Being able to collaborate is at the heart of being employable in the 21st century. The shift from solo work to teamwork in the workplace has signified a radical shift in how we structure our classrooms and daily lessons as we seek increased opportunities to collaborate in the classroom. Adolescents, however, face a host of challenges that can preoccupy them with the typical issues of growing up. This creates an increased challenge for educators who are looking to hone this essential skill. 

Looking to boost collaboration in your classroom? The key might lie in how you arrange your lessons and the learning space. In this blog, discover actionable tips on how we can create learning environments that cultivate teamwork, encourage interaction, and make learning more engaging for everyone. Ready to transform your classroom? Let's dive in! 

The importance of classroom collaboration for K-12 students 

Technology has given us automation, AI, and access to endless information. A primary focus in today’s learning environments is developing future-ready students who are well-equipped for the tech-infused workplaces that lie ahead. However, tomorrow’s jobs and careers also rely on skills that technology can’t replicate: originality, creative problem-solving, and collaboration.  

Collaboration is important for other reasons, too. Studies and teaching resources point to the benefits of collaboration in classrooms, including: 

  • Interdependence 

  • Accountability 

  • Positive interaction 

  • Social skills 

  • Boosted confidence 

  • Critical thinking skills

What to keep in mind for grade school, middle school, and high school student collaboration

The benefits of collaboration can inspire you to use cooperative learning more often in your classroom. However, students present unique challenges that change as they age.  

Grade school students collaborate best when…

…teachers break tasks down and incorporate benchmarks.  

Edutopia outlines why brain breaks are so important for today’s students. Generally speaking, a child’s attention span grows only two or three minutes each year. A third grader, for example, has an average attention span between 16 and 27 minutes.  Educators can help grade-school students collaborate better by breaking up the traditional classroom lecture method and creating flexible, more collaborative work environments. It’s also helpful to incorporate benchmarks into collaborative projects. Educators can then check-in with groups to assess their progress and assist those falling behind. 

Middle school students collaborate best when… 

…educators teach collaboration skills.

Middle school is often a time of social awkwardness and pressures of social expectations for students. Some students emerge as leaders, while others have a tendency to disengage. As a result, students will often stick to their prearranged social roles when working in groups. 

Teachers can set their expectations for collaborative work and encourage social collaboration in groups. Introduce your students to the finer points of constructive criticism, individual and group responsibility, and interdependence.  

For these young learners, demonstrating and facilitating “how” to work together will support better engagement. And it will encourage students to be more comfortable in navigating collaborative work. This approach might include: 

  • Setting group goals

  • Establishing group norms

  • Creating icebreaking group activities 

  • Fostering group discussions

  • Assigning group tasks

  • Using self and peer assessment techniques to monitor and evaluate progress

High school students collaborate best when… 

…they are provided assigned roles and a clear reason for working together. 

At the high school level, your students can take on more responsibilities and more complex assignments than their younger peers. They’ll find collaborative group work to be helpful, especially when there are clear goals and outlined benefits of working with their classmates. If the task seems difficult to manage alone, they’ll welcome the assistance of others. Inspire teamwork among your teens with problem-based learning, guided design, or think-pair-share type assignments. 

Traditional K-12 design ideas that still work 

In today’s dynamic learning environments, teachers are reimagining traditional setups by incorporating collaborative classroom furniture. But we don’t always like to reinvent the wheel. It may seem like classroom collaboration is new when, in fact, some traditional school furniture, like chemistry lab workstations, has always facilitated cooperative learning. You can also turn traditional, single-student desks into workstations for classroom collaboration simply by rearranging the school furniture. From flexible seating to group workstations, these design choices foster communication, creativity, and active participation among students. 

Modern, flexible K-12 design ideas to consider 

Still, decades-old school furniture doesn’t always lend itself to group work. And school budgets being what they are, it makes the most sense to design a flexible classroom layout you can adapt to your teaching goals and various pedagogies. Investing in chairs with wheels and lightweight desks that can be easily rearranged will give you the best of both worlds. You can separate the desks when classwork requires solitary effort, and you can combine seating arrangements into an endless array of groupings to accommodate any classroom collaboration project.  

Flexible classroom furniture, room designs, and layouts 

If you’re just starting your journey into reconfiguring your classrooms into spaces for student collaboration, you can start small with these essential products. 

Where to buy the best products and furnishings for K-12 classroom collaboration 

Outfit your classrooms this year with the furnishings that support collaborative learning. Explore products with wheels for easy mobility. Look for furnishings that double as multi-use products. Bring comfort, design, and durability that make your K-12 classrooms welcoming and positive. And let the trusted furniture experts at School Outfitters be your guides.  

We have collaborative furnishings and free room designs to ensure you make the most efficient use of your budget while you support collaborative learning. Our service continues after you place your order with fast shipping, peace-of-mind warranties, and personalized support. Make School Outfitters your collaborative classroom furnishings partner. Get a free quote today

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