Collaboration Space – SCEC Innovative Learning Environments

A collaboration space is an environments suited to social, interactive activities, typically conducted in pairs or small groups. Students engaged in collaborative learning, benefit from each other’s differing resources, abilities and prior knowledge. So in many ways the collaborative space is similar to a Watering Hole.

Collaborative Spaces need to be versatile to suit asymmetrical roles and learning styles. An increase in collaborative, social and informal spaces should be used to encourage interaction and assist in the construction and sharing of knowledge as well as the appreciation of diversity. The informal nature of these spaces also makes the students take more responsibility for their own learning, allowing them to develop independent learning skills.