Skills Integration Collaborative Learning

Introduction

Teachers spend a lot of time in class working on reading, writing, listening, and
speaking with their students. These skills are essential for effective communication and
are the areas tested in many well-known English language examinations.

We may work on a number of these skills within a single lesson; however, we often
teach students to do them in isolation. If we want our learners to become successful
communicators, we need to make the situations as authentic as possible inside the
classroom.

1. What is the meaning of Skills Integration?

Skills Integration
Skills integration generally refers to linking two or more of the traditional four skills of
language learning: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Explanation:
To do this we need to use an integrated approach to language learning.

 This is when we ask the students to use a combination (or all four) of these skills
within a single activity (or series of activities) to create a situation that is much
more similar to one they might come across in the real world.

 If you take, for example, a simple telephone conversation. We listen to what the
other person is saying and then reply. We may also need to make a note of
something they’ve said, read it back to make sure it makes sense, and then
explain it to someone else.

 Integrating skills can help students transfer skills. If students have to read a blog
post before writing their own, they’ll become familiar with the structure and
content which will help them write it.

 It also allows you to vary your activities in class, creating a more engaging and
motivating experience for students.
 How to Integrate the four skills?

The four skills can be referred to as Receptive Skills (listening and reading) or
Productive Skills (speaking and writing).

Perhaps the easiest way to start integrating skills in your class is by combining
the receptive and productive skills which are used across the same medium.

Question #1:

1. As a future teacher, can you give an example of skills integrating activity and
explain why you choose it as your strategy to teach your students?

Collaborative Learning
 Collaborative learning is a situation in which two or more people learn or
attempt to learn something together.
Explanation: Unlike individual learning, people engaged in collaborative
learning capitalize on one another's resources and skills. Collaborative
learning is all about coming together with others to understand a concept or
work on a common task. In the classroom, collaboration is a great way to
practice life skills that students can take into the future. Classroom
communities often reflect a smaller version of a future workplace or project
where students will have to work together on a joint task.
Traditional learning has been associated with one teacher imparting
knowledge to a large number of students. There is simply no interdependence
or any group processing.
The teacher is the primary source of information, and her priority is to get the
job done. This method has been followed for a very long time, but with
changing times, people have felt a need to create a different approach where
learning and teaching will involve the students working together.
Completing tasks, solving problems, debating amongst themselves, and
collaborating on varied projects together is essentially collaborative learning.
For example, in a group activity: ask one another for information, evaluate
one another's ideas, monitor one another's work, etc.
Concept of collaborative learning
Collaborative learning is considered both active and interactive. In this method,
the learner becomes knowledgeable by putting together his ideas into words.
Every one of them in the group is mutually accountable, and hence, they make
an extra effort to learn as well as impart knowledge through instructional learning.

Explanation:
As the name suggests, collaborative learning is all about teamwork and
collaboration. This is a student-centered method as teaching and learning both
revolve around him.
Interaction and participation are necessary tools for the construction of
knowledge where the activities involve the terms by, in, and for learning. It means
learners have the freedom to listen, debate, understand, justify, and impart their
views.
Working together in teams is an opportunity to create skills and traits that will
help them in their journey of life. It is an experience that facilitates cooperation
within a group and will teach you to adjust and change according to the situation.
This is a skill that has to be nurtured so that every one of us learns to work and
adjust in a team. In a professional environment, employers are hiring individuals
who can adjust and mingle with others for 100% productivity.

Another example of collaborative learning

Collaborative learning has always been in existence; we just did not have a
defined name for it. Remember the days before exams when few students used
to meet at a commonplace and discuss a particular chapter so that everyone
could understand it at once.
Explanation:
During such moments everyone’s input mattered because one knew about
something whereas the others about other things. Understanding, creating
solutions, exploring topics, applying related principles, and finding new ways to
come to a viable solution was a part of learning.
This group activity is now called collaborative learning and has found a niche
place in educational society. Collaborative learning takes power away from the
traditional teacher and distributes it equally amongst its students who now bear
the mantle of responsibility, ownership, and answerability.
 This is the age where technology reigns supreme, and you do not need to go to
another place for collaborative learning. Simply gather your group, open Skype,
and start the process with anyone you like.
Working together is now very easy, and you can talk, listen, express your views,
debate, understand, and offer your opinion all in one go.

The 7 Advantages of Collaborative Learning

Introduction
Collaborative learning helps people to mingle together with genuine warmth. It improves
relationships and develops social skills so that they can interact much more freely. This
technique enhances the learning process of an individual so that he can achieve 100%
efficiency in his dealings.

1) Boosts problem-solving skills

 An important advantage of collaborative learning is that it helps in boosting
the problem-solving skills of every individual in that group. An educational
task is given to the group with clear-cut instructions.
Explanations:
The students have to discuss the work amongst themselves by conducting
research, listening attentively, and communicating their thought processes. Every one of
the groups contributes to the discussion so that they all can come up with a solution for
the given task.
Yes, there is a chance that one member might occupy the limelight and not give
others the chance to speak. For this eventuality, there is a stipulated time frame in
which everyone has the freedom to speak out. It is the students that have to find the
solution and take a call for active participation and interaction. Students are encouraged
to share and even change their views if it is for the benefit of the team. Collaborative
learning helps to arrive at the right solution by improving and boosting problem-solving
skills.
2) Improving decision-making and time-management skills
 An important advantage of collaborative learning is that it develops self-
management traits so that an individual can improve decision-making
skills. In a group, you have to be willing to make decisions at every
important point.
Explanations:
Studying, researching, examining, and scrutinizing issues to find the right
solutions is part of collaborative learning. Once you learn to self-manage, you are on the
right path to improving your attributes. An individual now gains the confidence to interact
and interconnect personally with others through his dynamic personality. It will also
boost his time-management traits and increase his productivity .

3) Develops productivity and efficiency

 Collaborative learning is about learning together in a group and
developing interpersonal relationships.
Explanations:
When you spend time with others, you learn to relate with each other and become
friends. These foster trust and a sense of belonging that continue with time.
An important advantage of collaborative learning is that it increases the morale of a
group and thus has a positive impact on their efficiency and productivity.
4) Increases critical thinking
 An important advantage of collaborative learning is that it increases critical
thinking in an individual. It boosts the ability to grasp knowledge, learn,
and transmit information to others within the group.
Explanation:
It is a learning experience that involves research and critical thinking so that he can
think through the existing problems. When stimulating discussion takes place, the
students clarify their viewpoints, ideas, and opinions in front of their group members.
The interpretation and subsequent assessment nurture critical thinking in an individual.
5) Builds trust
 When you are working in a group, you have to trust others to complete the
project successfully. In this situation, the actual power rests with the group
instead of a single person.
Explanation:
Every person has a definite set of skills and knowledge. Active participation builds trust
among them and helps them to realize the value of shared knowledge and
togetherness.
6) Development of communication skills
 Collaborative learning is a process where everyone can have his say
within the group. During discussions, every individual has to put forward
his ideas and views.
Explanation:
This improves his oral communication skills. Sending information, sharing it with others,
receiving feedback, and coming to a conclusion after deliberation cannot be concluded
without proper communication among each other. Explaining, expressing, listening, and
clarifying are all part of effective communication that improves during collaborative
learning.
7) Improves social interactions
 An important part of the collaborative learning process is separating an
activity into tasks and subtasks. The students are divided into groups, and
each one handles one aspect of the job. In the end, they all have to
contribute towards completing the full task.
Explanation:
This task has social relevance as it encourages effective communication skills. An
important advantage of collaborative learning is that it improves social interactions and
teaches how to handle people from other groups to accomplish a task just like in social
settings.

Question #2:
2. What are the 7 advantages of Collaborative Learning?

The Disadvantages of Collaborative Learning

Critics are ready to criticize collaborative learning because, in this system, it is easy to
escape factors like responsibility and accountability.

1) It becomes a burden
 Collaborative learning encourages the sharing of responsibilities. Suppose
a group is made of five individual who is not on the same wavelength. One
might be active and smart, three mediocre, and one very laid back without
any knowledge.
Explanation:
In this scenario, the work will be distributed unequally and the actual responsibility of
completing the job is on a selected few instead of the whole group.
An important disadvantage of the collaborative learning process is that it becomes a
burden because it is a shared responsibility and not an individual undertaking.

2) Students become passive

 When a group of mixed-ability students is created, the overachiever tries
to hog the limelight, and the low-achieving students gradually start losing
their focus.
Explanation:
An important disadvantage of collaborative learning is that students tend to become
passive and disinterested when they are unable to voice their thoughts explicitly.

3) Lack of independent decision

 The goal of any learning process is to make the student independently
accountable for their actions. It encourages a student to give his best by
thinking on his feet and coming to viable solutions.
Explanation:
A disadvantage of collaborative learning is that the students are dependent on the other
members of the group for coming to a reasonable conclusion. You have to take help of
others, and this means that an individual view does not matter when the majority is
having their say.

4) Chances of conflict
 When you are working in a group, there are bound to be discussions and
heated debates.
Explanation: This is considered a disadvantage of collaborative learning as it could
lead to serious conflicts amongst the members and ruin their relationships.
5) Lack of challenge
 Students with higher IQ might not feel the stimulation that occurs when
you debate and work with people who are of the same intelligence levels.
Explanation: When the work does not feel like a challenge, the student will start losing
interest and focus. The lack of challenge is a serious disadvantage of the collaborative
learning method.
6) Fear of criticism
 Students with lower IQ levels are not comfortable working with people of
high IQ levels. There is bound to be awkwardness when both are working
in the same group.
Explanation:
An important disadvantage of collaborative learning is that it can increase shyness due
to the fear of criticism.

Question #3:
3. What are the 6 disadvantages of collaborative Learning?
4. Can you give another pedagogy in collaborative learning?

References:

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classroom/
http://www.ibe.unesco.org/en/glossary-curriculum-terminology/c/collaborative-
learning
https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/contextualizing-second-language-writing-in-
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https://nearpod.com/blog/collaborative-learning-collaborate-board/
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%20advantage%20of%20collaborative%20learning%20is%20that,that%20he
%20can%20think%20through%20the%20existing%20problems.