Collaborative spaces: investigating the relationships between students’ group-based learning and lecturers’ approaches

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Enabling teaching approaches that promote active learning can require a certain amount of organisational reorientation. For example, structural and cultural shifts may be needed to accommodate moves towards student-centred learning. In higher education environments, lecturers can play a significant role in supporting students’ collaborative learning. More needs to be understood about the connections between lecturers’ pedagogical approaches and the enhancement of student learning through group-based activities. Purpose With the context of a journey towards active learning in mind, this qualitative study sought to explore the relationship between lecturers’ pedagogical approaches and students’ group-based learning, and consider how student learning may be enriched through collaborative activities. Method Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 lecturers who were teaching a range of subjects in a higher education institution in Malaysia. Observations of teaching were also undertaken. Data were analysed thematically. Findings The in-depth analysis of rich data identified the many different ways in which lecturers enabled and promoted students’ group-based learning, through the design and delivery of appropriate and engaging collaborative tasks. Some challenges in the journey towards active learning development were identified in terms of supportive and procedural information provision. Conclusion Findings offer insight into how group activities may enhance student learning, when supported with carefully designed learning tasks which help students acquire the necessary collaborative skills. More broadly, they also highlight the need for institutional professional development support for higher education lecturers in order to engender a sustained culture of collaborative teaching and learning.