1. Collaborative learning involves students working together in groups to actively engage with course material rather than passively receiving information from lectures. It promotes learning through discussion, problem-solving, and diverse perspectives.
2. Key assumptions of collaborative learning are that learning is an active process of constructing meaning, learning depends on rich contexts like problem-solving, and learning is inherently social and occurs through discussion.
3. Collaborative learning approaches can vary in structure from loosely guided discussions to carefully structured activities like cooperative learning, case studies, simulations, and peer teaching models.