Collaboration and Critical Thinking
Researchers who study critical thinking in elementary school, high school, and college find that critical thinking and collaboration, or working with others, go hand in hand. Students at all levels are more likely to exercise their critical thinking abilities when they are exposed to the experiences and opinions of others.
YOUR TURN > WORK TOGETHER
Make a list of the ways you think you could benefit from joining a study group. Make another list of the reasons you might decide not to join one. Compare what you wrote with several classmates, and see which of your reasons are the same or different. To complete this activity, download a copy here.
| Reasons for Joining a Study Group | Reasons for NOT Joining a Study Group |
| Example: Could share child care responsibilities | Example: Might interfere with one of my part-time jobs |
Having more than one student involved in the learning process results in a greater number of ideas. People think more clearly when they talk as well as listen (a good reason to participate actively in your classes). Creative brainstorming and group discussion encourage original thought. These habits also teach participants to consider alternative points of view carefully and to express and defend their own ideas clearly. As a group negotiates ideas and learns to agree on the most reliable thoughts, it moves closer to a better solution.
Collaboration occurs not only face-to-face but also over the Internet through online discussion groups, blogs, Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and wikis (which allow users to add, update, and otherwise improve material that others have posted).
Whether in person or through electronic communication, teamwork improves your ability to think critically. As you leave college and either transfer or decide to return to work, you will find that collaboration is essential in almost any career you pursue, not only with people in your work setting but also with others around the globe.
