I used to dread the words “team-building exercise” during professional development sessions.
The moment our facilitator announced we’d be doing role play or building the tallest structure using only spaghetti, tape, and marshmallows, I’d have to stifle a groan. It felt like a waste of time that could be better spent learning “real” skills.
Yet something interesting happened once I reluctantly participated in these activities. Despite my initial resistance, I found myself engaged, laughing, and—most surprisingly—learning. Not just about the intended lesson, but about my colleagues: who took charge naturally, who brought creative solutions to problems, and who could keep everyone motivated when our spaghetti tower kept collapsing. Looking back, those seemingly silly exercises taught me as much about teamwork and problem-solving as any formal presentation ever did.
This realization fundamentally changed how I view learning. While individual study certainly has its place, there’s something uniquely powerful about learning alongside others—through discussion, collaboration, and even the occasional marshmallow tower competition.
Learning Together: Why It Works
Simply put, social and collaborative learning happens when people learn with and from each other. Instead of absorbing information alone, learners discuss ideas, solve problems together, and share what they know. This happens everywhere—from classrooms to online courses to workplace training sessions.
So why does learning together work so well? Here’s what makes it powerful:
- First, it’s engaging. We’re social creatures, and learning alone can feel isolating. When we’re part of a group, we’re more likely to stay interested, ask questions, and actively participate. That sense of connection keeps us motivated.
- Second, it builds critical thinking. When we tackle problems together, we see different perspectives and approaches. This challenges our assumptions and helps us think more deeply about complex topics.
- Third, it mirrors real life. Sure, we may not build spaghetti structures with marshmallows in our real life, but working through scenarios as a team prepares us for actual workplace challenges. The skills we practice in collaborative settings transfer directly to our day-to-day work.
- Fourth, it develops people skills. Beyond the subject matter itself, collaborative learning builds communication, teamwork, and empathy—qualities that are increasingly valuable in any profession.
- Finally, it creates community. When learners feel connected, they support each other and share resources. This creates a culture where knowledge flows freely, and learning continues long after formal training ends.
Implementing Social and Collaborative Learning
Now that we know the why behind social and collaborative learning, let’s talk about how to implement it.
Within synchronous courses—whether virtual, or in-person—provide as many opportunities as possible for your participants to truly participate. Use breakout groups or guided questioning in the classroom to drive discussion. It’s also fun to create friendly competition between table groups to get everyone sharing. Maximize the “together time” and get them to learn from each other.
One activity that consistently sparks engagement in my business development workshops involves a competitive twist on solution-finding. After presenting groups with a fictional client case, teams race to identify unique solutions that address the client’s challenges. The catch? Only solutions that no other team identifies count toward their score. When they present their ideas, any duplicates across teams must be crossed off everyone’s list. I’ve watched fascinating debates unfold as teams passionately explain why their approach is fundamentally different from another team’s similar solution. This simple competition pushes participants to think beyond conventional approaches and challenges their standard problem-solving patterns in ways that straight instruction never could.
You may think that collaborative learning can only work for synchronous programs but, with a little more effort, you can get your asynchronous participants working (and learning) together as well:
- Utilize Online Discussion Forums:
- Leverage your collaboration programs, like Microsoft Teams to create spaces where learners can engage in discussions, ask questions, and share insights. Dedicated learning channels for specific courses where learners can post their reflections, questions, and insights.
- Provide Peer Coaching Opportunities:
- Pair up learners that have taken the same course within a short period of time and provide them with a list of suggestions for how they can share the insights they gained through the course, and perhaps even share how they have applied them after taking the course.
- Practice Communities:
- Schedule regular “office hours” calls where learners can drop in to discuss real-world application of course materials with more experienced colleagues.
- Leverage AI:
- Provide your learners with a virtual assistant that allows them to “talk” with someone while they complete an eLearning course. They can bounce ideas, practice applying skills – all just by interacting with an assistant that is knowledgeable about the course the learner is taking. Check out Learning Leader to learn more about this approach.
Make Collaboration Count
Social and collaborative learning isn’t just a trend, it’s a powerful approach that reflects the way we naturally learn best: through interaction, dialogue, and shared experiences. So, the next time you’re planning a learning experience, think about how you can bring people together to learn from each other. The spaghetti tower they build today just might make them the best leaders your company has ever seen.
Looking to incorporate more collaborative elements into your learning programs? At Smartfirm, we specialize in designing engaging collaborative experiences for both virtual and in-person settings. Whether you need interactive eLearning solutions that connect learners across distances or dynamic instructor-led training that maximizes group participation, our 25 years of experience can transform your learning strategy. Reach out to discuss how we can help your team learn better, together.
