Collaborative classrooms are starting to pop up on campus as new buildings are built and renovations take place. This can leave you wondering what these spaces are best suited for and what the benefits of teaching in them might be. Below, you'll find an overview of the nuances of teaching in these spaces and where to find them on campus. Scroll to the bottom for a comprehensive video overview.
What are collaborative classrooms are suited for?
In collaborative classrooms, you'll typically find pods where students face one another with lots of room for the instructor to circulate between and among groups. Collaborative classrooms are best suited for student collaboration on hands-on tasks, peer-to-peer interaction among students and intensive work with faculty, collaborative use of technology in the classroom, and viewing/critiquing the work of individual teams. Due to the way these rooms are set up, collaborative classrooms are not suited for lectures (where students have to look at the front of the room), seminars (where students all have to face the center), computer lab work, or webinars/guest speakers.
Student Benefits of Working in Collaborative Classrooms
- Increased technology skills
- Interpersonal communication skills
- Socializing into the discipline
Resources to Expect in a Collaborative Classroom
Most collaborative classrooms will be set up in pods for different small groups to face one another and work together. There will often be a shared computer screen at each pod where someone can plug-in their laptop or device to share with fellow group members and with other groups as well. You'll typically find white boards (often moveable) as public thinking spaces, internet access for everyone, and plenty of space throughout the room for the instructor to circulate and interact with different groups.
You may need additional resources in the room for complete success, such as:
- extra time for activity set up
- dry erase markers (if in the library, they may be available at circulation desk)
- devices to project onto screens
- scrap paper, worksheets or problem sets
Designing a Good Activity in the Collaborative Classroom
- Providing clear instructions
- Making sure work is student-led
- Having problems with divergent solutions
- Having a visual focus
- Having high expectations of engagement
- Using assessment to motivate work/progress
Collaborative Classrooms at Kenyon
Additional Resources for Teaching in Collaborative Classrooms
- Teaching and Learning Experiences in Active Learning Classroom from McGill University: youtu.be/xFIDad64j8M
- How Do I Implement Studio Teaching? From Carleton College: serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/studio/how.html