What is Collaborative Learning?

Introduction

In a page I posted earlier today, I gave examples of how and why AI could be of value to a college level lecturer in Accouning subjects. One of the topics concerns collaborative learning and in this post, I set out what collaborative learning might entail for a student of accounting at the college level.

Collaborative learning is a fantastic way to engage college level accounting students and help them develop important skills. Here are some examples of collaborative learning activities that you can incorporate into your accounting courses:

1. Group projects: 📊 Assign students to work in small groups on real world accounting problems or case studies. This encourages them to apply their knowledge, share ideas and learn from each other's perspectives.

2. Peer review sessions: 📝 Have students review each other's assignments or projects, providing constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement. This helps them to hone their critical thinking skills and learn from their peers' work.

3. Role playing exercises: 🎭 Create scenarios where students play different roles, such as auditors, accountants or clients, to simulate real life accounting situations. This can help them develop communication and negotiation skills while deepening their understanding of the subject matter.

4. Online discussion forums: 💻 Set up a virtual platform where students can discuss accounting topics, share resources and collaborate on assignments. This promotes an ongoing exchange of ideas and fosters a sense of community among students.

5. Collaborative note taking: 📓 Encourage students to work together in creating a shared set of lecture notes or summaries. This can help them better understand the material and identify any gaps in their knowledge.

6. Study groups: 📚 Encourage students to form study groups for exam preparation or to work on assignments. This allows them to share knowledge, clarify doubts and support each other in mastering accounting concepts.

7. Fishbowl discussions: 🐠 Divide the class into two groups: one "inner circle" of students who participate in a discussion on a specific accounting topic, and an "outer circle" that observes and takes notes. After a set time, the groups switch roles. This encourages active listening and participation from all students.

8. Jigsaw learning: 🧩 Divide a topic into smaller subtopics and assign each student or group a different subtopic to research and master. Then, have the students come together to teach their peers about their respective subtopics, ultimately forming a complete understanding of the larger topic.

9. Collaborative presentations: 🎤 Have students work in groups to research and deliver presentations on various accounting topics or case studies. This helps them develop presentation skills, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of the subject.

10. Brainstorming sessions: 💡 Organise group brainstorming sessions to tackle complex accounting problems or generate new ideas for projects. This can foster creativity, innovation, and a cooperative learning environment.

Summary

There is no doubt that setting up learning experiences such as these can be challenging and time consuming. However, I have used several of them in various classes, at various levels, across various cultures and they have proven very effective at enhancing the learning experiences of my students. The most difficult of the approaches, I have found, is the peer review sessions: I once had a student who refused to review the work of a fellow student because, she said, she is a friend and she didn't want to hurt her!

These collaborative learning activities can help college level accounting students develop essential skills like critical thinking, problem solving, communication and teamwork, all while enhancing their understanding of accounting principles and practices. Give them a try and see the positive impact they can have on your students' learning experience!

Duncan Williamson

2nd May 2023