| In colleges and universities, the long-standing traditional pedagogy of lecture-based learning has been challenged by new learning theories, advancements in technology, and a change in the perception of knowledge. One theory put forth in the late 1980s and early 1990s is collaborative learning. Collaborative learning theory states in part, that the student becomes an active participant in the learning process (Whipple, 1987). Learning in the collaborative model requires student interaction and acceptance to be successful. This study examined the reaction of students to learning in a university using a collaborative learning model. Using existing survey results, focus groups, and interviews, this study found that students do not attach the same meaning to the language of collaborative learning, making it difficult to determine if collaborative learning works at the University. (The title the University is being used in place of the school's name to protect the confidentiality of the subjects.) According to this study, if students are to be active collaborative learners, the language needs to be carefully defined. |
