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by Ryann Garland on June 17, 2025
Tools that help students learn are a teacher’s bread and butter. But tools that offer so much more — collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, all while being fun and engaging — are a teacher’s secret ingredient.
Collaboration is an unavoidable part of life. Regardless of a student’s future studies or career, there will always be some element of collaboration. The best time to develop these skills is now.
But there can also be some fear that comes with collaboration: disagreements, fights, off-task conversations, and numerous other distractions. We’re here today to grab you by the shoulders, take a deep breath with you, and remind you that effective collaboration is possible in your classroom.
Here’s how.
What Is Collaborative Learning?
Collaborative learning is peer-to-peer or group-based learning, focusing on peer instruction. Collaborative learning is meant to be active, social, engaging, and student-led.
According to Cornell, collaborative learning promotes deeper learning and helps students better retain class content. Additionally, students grow their self-esteem and responsibility when they learn in a team environment. This is a key opportunity for students to take ownership of their own learning. Another great benefit of collaborative learning is that students can be exposed to diverse perspectives and ways of learning. These exposures, piece by piece, will help students learn how to understand those who think differently from them.
Why Teachers Should Use Collaborative Learning Tools
Collaborative learning activities take students from passively completing assignments to actively engaging and learning with excitement. When students work in groups, they’re building critical thinking skills by discussing, debating, and problem-solving together. Collaborative learning platforms help students develop valuable skills like project management, delegation, and working under a deadline. All the while, their communication and teamwork abilities are growing.
These tools support real-time collaboration and active learning. For example, assigning group roles, using team contracts, and incorporating peer assessments help ensure every student is involved and accountable.
Strategies to Facilitate Collaborative Learning
To successfully use collaborative learning in the classroom, focus on fostering an inclusive school environment. Group activities should be intentionally designed with clear expectations and ground rules for fairness and respect.
Collaboration tools are essential in keeping students engaged while helping them stay organized with their group projects. When used thoughtfully, collaboration tools promote active participation and give every student a voice and a chance to participate. Introduce group work early on, make expectations clear, and encourage students to brainstorm and share all their ideas.
Top Collaborative Learning Tools
1. Google Docs
Google Docs is a powerful, free collaborative note-taking and file-sharing tool. Numerous features make group-work and real-time editing easy and possible. Through Google Docs, students can easily see each other’s ideas in real time and collaborate.
Google Docs is best for group projects, peer editing, and brainstorming. In the classroom, students could use Google Docs for activities such as group note taking, peer editing essays and paragraphs, idea generation for an upcoming project, or recording observations for a lab report.
2. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a platform used in numerous professional and educational spaces. It is a centralized, collaborative learning platform that makes communication and keeping track of assignments easier. Teams is an ideal project management tool: text chat, video, file sharing, and other collaboration tools.
Microsoft Teams is ideal for organizing small groups or whole-class discussion spaces. Teams allows for the creation of numerous channels under one team, making it possible to organize students into multiple groups at once. With Teams, group projects can become a breeze by having documents (like rubrics, lab reports, essays, etc.) all in one place. Teams has a video chat feature making it easy for students to connect outside the classroom.
3. Padlet
Padlet is a great tool for creative tasks, collaboration, and visual brainstorming. It’s flexible and interactive for the diverse needs of students. On Padlet, students can add sticky notes, images, links, and more—all of which make collaboration and organization a breeze for student groups.
We recommend using Padlet for group reflections and creative writing activities.
4. Flip (formerly Flipgrid)
Flip, formerly known as Flipgrid, is an awesome video-based tool where students can discuss and collaborate through short video responses. Flip is effective because it builds verbal communication skills and helps students feel confident operating a digital learning space. Find more information on how to use Flip in your classroom here.
Flip is perfect for creative expression, peer feedback, and social learning.
5. Trello
Trello is a great tool for project management that can be adapted for classroom collaboration. It includes boards, inboxes, and planners. These tools help students track progress and organize tasks visually.
Trello is a great tool for promoting accountability and teamwork in group projects. Groups can use this to organize their projects into sections such as “to do,” “in progress,” and “done.” It can also help students assign various project roles or responsibilities to group members.
6. Canva for Education
Canva itself is a great tool for design and visual projects. Canva for Education offers special features for teachers at K-12 schools. Canva helps foster creativity, collaboration, and technology skills all in one tool.
Use Canva to help students co-create presentations, posters, and infographics.
7. Google Slides
Google Slides is another favorite—a great collaborative presentation tool that is ideal for student-led learning activities. On Slides, students can work together to plan, create, and present content. It also easily supports peer feedback, file sharing, and real-time collaboration.
Use Google Slides for presentations and collaborative activities.
8. Miro
Miro is an AI-powered collaborative platform with an advanced whiteboard for brainstorming and planning. Miro helps students organize their thinking visually and work together on a single platform.
Miro is a great tool for higher grade levels and group projects that involve complex ideas.
AI-Powered Collaborative Learning Tools
AI in education is a new frontier. While we may not have tapped into all AI has to offer, we have a few ideas of how it can make a teacher’s life easier. Check out Skyler’s Teacher’s Guide to Effectively Utilizing AI to get our top tips on making the most of AI.
AI-powered collaborative learning platforms can enhance learning and personalize a student’s learning path. Kahoot! is a great option for gamified learning and interactive quizzes. If you’re looking for a digital whiteboard for collaboration and brainstorming, Mural is a great option that is student-led. Disco is another great AI-powered platform that enhances collaborative learning and personalizes the experience for students.
Best Practices to Facilitate Collaborative Learning
Collaborative learning is not just about having the right tools, but also knowing how to make the right groups. When making groups, aim for smaller groups of 3-5, varying based on the assignment. To help students grow and meaningfully contribute, mix and match students with different strengths (such as strong readers, creative students, leaders, and good communicators). Also, keep the introverts in mind —as a recovering shy student, I know it’s easy to sink into the side and not contribute during group work. Pair shy or introverted students with students who are friendly, patient, and inclusive. Beyond these basic principles, make sure to mix and match. Rotate groups frequently to help students learn to be flexible and experience different work styles.
Once effective groups are created, the next step to effective collaboration is setting clear roles and expectations for collaborative tasks. Team roles will vary from project to project, but some examples of team roles include team leader, writer, technology lead, time manager, materials manager, and illustrator. Set some clear classroom expectations but also encourage students to create team contracts, especially for long-term projects. With these expectations, students should prioritize communication, respect, and shared responsibility.
Collaborative Learning Activities to Try
Beyond having the right platform, there are numerous creative and effective activities teachers can use to promote collaborative learning and spark student engagement. The jigsaw technique is wonderful for team collaboration; it allows each student to become an “expert” on a portion of a larger topic, then teach their group members. For example, if teaching about the water cycle, each member of the group can become an expert about each step, then teach one another. The jigsaw technique promotes accountability, active listening, and reinforces learning through research and peer instruction. Similarly, problem-based learning challenges, such as a Mission.io, put students in control as they tackle real-world scenarios.
Other great activities include peer review and critique sessions, where students learn how to give and receive constructive feedback, make edits, and communicate effectively. Digital escape rooms are another engaging tool where students must work together to “unlock” clues.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Collaborative Learning Tools
While there are so many tools at our fingertips, the best ones for your class will vary. To choose the best tool and promote interactive learning for your class, consider your students’ needs, your technology access, and grade level. Aim for tools that align with your lesson plans and learning outcomes. Don’t be afraid to switch up the tools if something isn’t working for you!
When you combine technology, teamwork, and collaboration in your classroom, your students will soar. Collaborative learning is about more than technology or fancy tools—it’s about creating meaningful learning experiences.