Promoting Collaborative Learning in Students Soon to Graduate through a Teaching–Learning Model

Abstract

For students to compete in the globalized world, it is essential to be proficient not only in knowledge but also in soft skills. Students should know how to work collaboratively towards a common goal; in this sense, it is recommended for educators to enhance collaborative learning competency, particularly in students in the final part of their studies. Important efforts have been made to study collaborative learning; however, those that focus on collaborative competencies in engineering students close to finishing their studies have not yet been explored. In this context, this research proposes a teaching–learning model named “Colabora” to foster collaborative competencies in students soon to graduate from an industrial engineering program. It includes the development of a progressive final project, the use of a digital platform, and specific assessment tools. An exploratory study was conducted in a private university in Mexico during a semester-long innovation management course. Results show that the students who applied “Colabora” obtained the most knowledge on the subject of innovation management and showed greater collaborative competence. This approach adds value for educators and researchers interested in fostering collaborative competencies useful for future professionals that work in teams pursuing common goals.

Keywords

• collaborative learning
• collaborative competency
• teaching–learning resource
• higher education
• educational innovation