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Collaborative Learning Ritu Joshi* Collaborative learning refers to teaching methodologies and environment in which learners are engaged in a common task. Each student depends on, and is accountable to, other members of the group. Collaborative learning is often mistaken by the teachers as any group activity or project given in Formative Assessment. Tere can be several tasks other than group projects and activities which can be taken up by a teacher for engaging the students in collaborative learning, inside or outside the classroom. It can be anything from arranging a fash mob on any social issue in a Social Science class to preparing a video about nature to understand the “Diversity in the living world”. Tere is one more thing the teacher has to ensure here i.e., the teacher’s role. S/ he should not become passive after assigning a collaborative task to them. S/he has to be very active and vigilant throughout, as the learning becomes more of student led. Tere exists a strong probability of proceedings going in an undesired direction in absence of teachers’ active role. Terefore it becomes important for a teacher to become a facilitator here, either by giving clear directions or providing prompts throughout the teaching-learning process so as to ensure the construction of correct knowledge by students. Approaches to collaborative learning:± Teacher ± led approach: in this approach, the teacher is very active, as a role model monitoring the work of students and is in control of knowledge formation by students. In this approach, students are expected to imbibe knowledge provided by teacher. In - transition approach: In this approach a teacher gives his/her input to structure learning and there is partial construction of knowledge by students through prompts provided by teacher. Students are involved in constructing the knowledge through peer interaction. In this approach, teachers and students play an active role. Student-led approach: In this approach the teacher poses the central problem to the students. S/he does not reproduce knowledge but expects the students to do it. Te students are very active in constructing knowledge through peer interaction or teacher interaction, involving dialogue and negotiations as a means to learning. Suggested tasks for collaborative learning:- For Classes I to IV • Mock shopping • Demonstrating • Recording observations of a phenomenon • Visits to zoo, hospital, post ofce, railway station etc. to see what people do there. For Classes V to X • Brainstorming • Discussion • Surveys • Debates * P.G.T. (Biology), Dr. Bansi Dhar School (Senior Secondary), Kota, Rajasthan 30 Collaborative Learning