IB Corner: Collaborative Learning Environments

When you have the opportunity to explore an IB setting such as Shanghai Community International School (SCIS), you may notice your observations challenge what you remember or what you know about traditional approaches to learning.

You would see the diversity of the student body, revel in the use of cutting-edge equipment, and watch in awe as young students explore materials you would never guess could be used for play or art. This is because each collaborative learning environment is designed to promote collaboration between students and educators, the cornerstone of the IB philosophy.  

The type of furniture available, the way students can move around the space, how easily they may access materials, and how students would be expected to interact with one another are all factors that impact the potential of collaboration.

All of these aspects are considered when setting up our school each year, and our learning environments each day. Collaborative learning environments are designed to engage learners in a way that ensures they will problem-solve together, watch others as they model their ideas and thinking, and explore as a group.

Instead of single desks for workspaces, you may notice round tables, various surfaces or ways for students to document their ideas, and technology to make this work come to life.

Students have the opportunity to collaborate so that they learn and grow from each other, sharing these environments with ownership. By prioritizing open communication, individuals in collaborative learning environments can learn from others, and in turn, teach others what they know as well.

Student productivity increases in collaborative learning environments because students are naturally motivated to engage with their peers. Teachers facilitating collaborative learning environments have the luxury of bringing together learners with different experiences, knowledge, and learning styles.  

Collaborative learning environments ingrain the knowledge students need to participate in group work, a set of invaluable skills everyone requires to be a responsible community member no matter the setting. This allows students to take action across environments while they inquire about the world around them and connect with others.  

At SCIS, our collaborative learning environments are designed in hopes that the role we play as educators fosters critical thinking skills and empathy toward others, as students arrive to find their purposeful place in their community each day.

SCIS. Learning Together.