Our primers provide concise, research-based summaries of key principles, instructional strategies, and evidence from literature to support educators in implementing collaborative learning practices.
Each primer offers:
Our resources benefit many educational partners including:
If you’re ready to bring research into your classroom(s), explore the collaborative learning resources below:
This primer explores how teachers can promote effective collaboration among learners.
This primer considers how teachers can create a classroom allowing students to evaluate evidence, share new ideas, and build on each others’ ideas.
This primer considers how teachers can create a classroom allowing students to evaluate evidence, share new ideas, and build on each others’ ideas.
This primer explores best practices to support collaborative argumentation for both STEM and non-STEM teachers.
This primer explores how assessment can support collaborative learning, including what it is, why it matters, and when and how to apply it effectively.
Interested in all our resources? Download our practitioner toolkit and all research primers:
I like how the Assessment primer presented multiple strategies and assessment concepts, along with rubrics. These elements are crucial for understanding and implementing collaborative learning effectively. The inclusion of research-based evidence further supports the validity of these strategies, making them more reliable for practitioners.
Dan Jones, ESE Computer Science/CTE Teacher
I think the Classroom Discourse primer clearly explained collaborative learning concepts and strategies, backed by a lot of research evidence, with a clear bibliography at the end. If I were considering accessibility for practitioners, I particularly appreciated the breakdown of specific steps that could be used. As a teacher, I’m always more interested in practical applications—what I can do with the information and how to use it specifically in my classroom. I really appreciated seeing that in the primer, and the external links were brilliant.
Julie York, High school CS/Media Teacher & Department Chair
The Teacher’s Roles in Supporting Collaborative Learning primer did an excellent job of clearly explaining collaborative learning concepts and strategies. It differentiated collaborative learning from cooperative learning, outlined the three key phases (before, during, and after), and provided specific, actionable strategies for each phase. The inclusion of research citations effectively supported the claims and provided a foundation for the recommendations.
Delmar Wilson, High school CS/Math teacher and Mentor Coach
Mapping, Clarifying, and Communicating Key Ideas about Collaborative Learning (MC²)
