--- title: "What is Collaborative Learning" description: "Participants reflect on past positive and negative collaborations, build shared trait lists, and prioritize top factors for effective group work." last_updated: "2026-09-07" canonical: "https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/1-what-is-collaborative-learning/" --- # What is Collaborative Learning Participants reflect on past positive and negative collaborations, build shared trait lists, and prioritize top factors for effective group work. **Time:** 60 minutes. 60 minutes matches the complete multi-step sequence recorded in the source instructions (5 + 10 + 10 + 20 + 15). **People:** 4 to 24. Solo reflection, whole-group listing, then breakout groups of 2 to 4 for ranking. At 5 participants, form one group of 2 and one group of 3. ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Identify observable behaviors and group conditions that help or hinder collaboration. **Use it when:** Use when launching a new team or project group that needs shared working agreements based on past experience. **Skip it when:** Skip when a group already has established ground rules and needs immediate work on a technical task. ## Materials and tools - 1 pad of flip chart paper - 4 markers in different colors - 1 pen per participant - Scratch paper for each participant - Wall tape for posting flip chart sheets ## Before participants arrive 1. Use wall tape to hang one sheet titled Positive Collaboration and one sheet titled Negative Collaboration on the wall. 2. Set up a timer visible to the facilitator. 3. Distribute blank scratch paper and pens to each seat. ## Say this to open We are going to examine what makes working together succeed or stall. Think back to a specific collaborative experience you had in the past that went well. Write down two or three concrete traits that made it work. ## How to run it ### 1. Reflect on positive collaboration (5 minutes) Read the opening script aloud. Give participants 5 minutes of quiet time to recall a real collaboration and write 2 to 3 descriptive traits on scratch paper. ### 2. Catalog positive traits (10 minutes) Invite volunteers to call out positive traits one at a time. Record them on the Positive Collaboration flip chart, clustering similar items into themes. To stay within time, collect 8 to 12 distinct contributions rather than calling on every person individually. Do not debate or evaluate traits in this step. ### 3. Reflect and catalog negative traits (10 minutes) Ask participants to recall a negative collaborative experience. Give 2 minutes of silent reflection to note traits to avoid on scratch paper. Then invite volunteers to call out 8 to 12 distinct negative traits. Record them on the Negative Collaboration chart without critique. ### 4. Rank top attributes in small groups (20 minutes) Divide the room into small groups of 2 to 4. For 5 people, form a pair and a trio. Direct each group to review both wall charts and select their top 5 positive attributes and top 5 negative attributes to avoid. For example, a group might prioritize responsiveness to team members over familiarity. Have each group write their ranked lists on scratch paper and tape them beside the main charts when finished. ### 5. Debrief as a full group (15 minutes) Gather the full room around the posted lists. Have a spokesperson from each small group read their number one positive trait and number one pitfall. Use the remaining time to ask 2 debrief questions from the list. ## Debrief questions - Which negative attributes are most likely to derail our work here? - Which positive attributes are most critical to maintain in our next session? - Who holds responsibility for keeping these conditions in place? **Finished output:** Two thematic wall charts of positive and negative traits, plus posted small-group top-five ranking sheets to reference for future group norms. ## Remote Use a shared digital whiteboard with two distinct columns for positive and negative traits. Have participants type notes individually during silent prompts, copy a representative sample to the main board, and then move into breakout rooms of 2 to 4 with edit rights to post their top five lists. ## Hybrid Pair in-room participants with each other and remote participants into online breakout rooms. Record all contributions directly onto a single shared cloud whiteboard projected in the room, with a designated in-person speaker relaying remote audio during full-group sharing. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may submit traits via chat, written notes, or spoken word. - Anyone may opt to pass on sharing personal work stories and instead contribute general observations. ## If the session gets stuck **Participants start debating whether a trait is good or bad during cataloging steps.** Remind the room that cataloging is only for collection. Note the exact words on the chart and park debate for small-group ranking. **A small group gets stuck trying to reach unanimous consensus on their top five.** Instruct the group to use dot voting or a quick majority show of hands so they complete their selection within time. ## Terms used here - Attribute: A specific behavior, habit, or condition that shapes how a group operates. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in Collaborative Discussion Project (item 1.1, 'What is Collaborative Learning?'), submitted by Nicholas Longo. Retained the five-step flow, timing, and prompts from Nicholas Longo's submission to the Collaborative Discussion Project. Set collection caps of 8 to 12 traits in steps 2 and 3 so whole-group listing runs smoothly at group max without rushing. Specified that small-group ranking sheets are taped beside the main charts to serve as tangible reference outputs. Added UWT hybrid instructions and practical access options. [Collaborative Discussion Project](https://www.collaborativediscussionproject.com/items-1/11whatiscollaborativelearning) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/1-what-is-collaborative-learning/