Page 21 - CBSE Cover Jan-March 2014_16-07-2014 FINAL

Capitalizing Learning Dr. Anita Bhalla* A learning in which groups of students with distinct identity and quality work together in a coordinated and mutually supportive way to fulfll a common purpose or goal, is collaborative learning. Students capitalize on one another’s resources and skills in collaborative learning. Tey have equal responsibility for executing processes to achieve a goal. Students work together in groups and extract valuable information and ideas. Te main purpose of collaborative learning is to encourage students to reach out to each other to solve problems and share knowledge which not only develops interpersonal skills but also leads to deeper learning and understanding. It enables them to develop critical thinking and enhances their social and communication skills. Every child is talented and is capable of doing his/her best and CBSE provides ample opportunities in scholastic and co-scholastic areas where they work together and enhance team spirit. While working together, students get the free fow of ideas and information and also cultivate the feeling of trust and oneness as the members of a team. In a curricular discipline, students participate in various group activities in which they think out of the box and share their ideas. Tey prepare their resilience. Tese group activities also instill values among students which help them to perform better as a team. To enhance the spirit of collaborative learning the school undertakes many projects and activities. In these programmes, the celebration of religious festivals, conducting various rallies, distribution of clothes among diferent strata of society, providing free education to under privileged students besides imparting them computer knowledge and midday meals, organization of various cultural festivals, slogan writing, painting, debate, declamation, decoration of display board, activities to inculcate the artistic value and taking students to various trips and excursions etc., are included. Tese practices not only imbibe in them the knowledge of the task assigned but help them to comprehend the spirit of coordination, cooperation, discipline and other societal values. As the emphasis of collaborative learning is to enhance and nurture the team spirit the schools spare no efort in putting these words to action. Moreover, this is a concept wherein, the communicative, presentation and cognitive skills go hand in hand. It also strives to impart the best as well as values-based knowledge to students through various group activities which help them to become responsible citizens. * Principal, Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan Sohan Lal Public School, Amritsar, Punjab January-March 2014 19