Meaning of collaborative work (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Collaborative Work:

Collaborative work is one in which a group of people intervenes, contributing their ideas and knowledge with the aim of achieving a common goal.

However, it differs from teamwork in that what is pursued in collaborative work is the production of knowledge, and not so much the optimization of results.

Their work dynamics, moreover, differ fundamentally in that in collaborative work figures such as that of the leader or coordinator arise spontaneously, and are not rigidly defined.

In this sense, it is a more flexible way of working that allows achieving different results (not necessarily better) than teamwork.

Collaborative work in virtual environments

Collaborative work is a way of organizing the tasks of a project that, thanks to the internet and the tools that information and communication technologies have made available to us, has taken a new dimension.

It is characterized because in it a group of individuals, specialists, experts or simple connoisseurs, work together, decentralized and simultaneously, to achieve a common goal.

Each one of the members, in this sense, contributes, cooperates and intervenes in those areas of the project that dominate the most.

The main objective of collaborative work is to share knowledge under an altruistic conception of knowledge. In fact, in this form of work there is no exclusive author.

In this sense, some examples of collaborative work are represented by platforms such as Wikipedia, Linux or the Gutenberg Project.

Collaborative work in the classroom

Collaborative work, applied to education, is a teaching method where the teacher actively involves students in the learning process.

It is based on dialogue, communication, negotiation and explanation to stimulate learning, since a context of interaction and social cooperation is more stimulating for the development of thought.

Dialogue allows contrasting points of view and opinions, reflection and critical thinking; the result of that interaction is the acquisition of new knowledge.

Collaborative work in the classroom, in addition, fosters the feeling of solidarity and mutual respect among students.

For his part, the role of the teacher is essential, since he is the one who must implement, coordinate and guide collaborative work in the classroom.