Effective communication and collaboration are essential to becoming a successful
learner. It is primarily through dialogue and examining different perspectives that
students become knowledgeable, strategic, self-determined, and empathetic. Moreover,
involving students in real-world tasks and linking new information to prior knowledge
requires effective communication and collaboration among teachers, students, and others.
Indeed, it is through dialogue and interaction that curriculum objectives come alive.
Collaborative learning affords students enormous advantages not available from more
traditional instruction because a group--whether it be the whole class or a learning group
within the class--can accomplish meaningful learning and solve problems better than any
individual can alone.