Collaborative learning involves students working together in groups or pairs to complete learning tasks. It is based on the idea that learning occurs through social interaction and dialogue. There are several benefits to collaborative learning according to learning theories. It allows students to build upon each other's ideas and jointly construct understanding. Effective collaborative learning involves structured techniques like think-pair-share where students discuss questions in pairs before sharing with the class. Both instructors and students face challenges in implementing collaborative learning approaches in the classroom.