Argumentative Essay On Collaborative Learning

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The act of learning has always been influenced by social dimensions. By intuition, humans tend to team up with other people to perform tasks more efficiently. Based on this reasoning, a shift has recently taken place in the educational system for the inclusion of collaborative learning strategies for the advancement of academic learning. According to English professor Kenneth A. Bruffee, collaborative learning is “a form of indirect teaching in which the teacher sets the problem and organizes the students to work it out collaboratively” (Trimbur 87). This practice allows students to trade their passive role in the classroom to become responsible explorers of knowledge. As an international student who is constantly seeking to improve her skills …show more content…

According to Frank Smith, for example, this type or learning involves one member of a group who “works together with trust” with the other person who wants to join this club (McAndrew and Reigstad 5). Although it is true that knowledge is obtained through the interaction of two people who are willing to cooperate together, this process also involves being aware of the cultural conventions of both. Going back to my experience with a writing tutor during my freshmen year, I recall having built a good friendship and tutor-advisee relationship with my advisor. However, until this day I still hold a submissive attitude towards my tutors and teachers liked I used to do when I was in school back home. In Latin cultures, students learn since they’re little to respect adults and their authority. Even though I have been studying in American institutions for years, I unconsciously still behave this way and cautiously submit myself to what my teachers and tutors tell me; I was taught to never talk back. This is the reason why during my first conferences I was shy to speak and contribute with my ideas in the conversations. Through my experiences it can be seen that collaborative learning involves more than the intention of both parts to work

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