13 Powerful Examples of Collaborative Learning in the Workplace

Learning at work can feel lonely. Many people sit through training sessions without real connection or follow-up. It’s frustrating when knowledge doesn’t stick—and even harder when teams don’t grow together.

You’re not alone if you’ve noticed this. A recent report found that only 20% of companies offer collaborative learning events more than once a month. That means most workplaces are missing a big chance to help employees learn with and from each other.

This post will show you 13 real examples of collaborative learning in the workplace—things teams are doing right now to learn better, work closer, and grow stronger together.

What Is Collaborative Learning?

Collaborative learning is when people work together to learn something new. Instead of figuring things out on your own, you team up, share knowledge, and solve problems as a group. Everyone contributes their ideas, listens to others, and learns through discussion and action.

In a workplace setting, this might look like team brainstorming, co-creating solutions, or learning through shared tasks. It’s a more active way to learn compared to reading or listening alone.

Some of the key benefits include:

• Working as a team to solve problems
• Getting involved instead of just observing
• Learning from your peers' experience and knowledge

Collaborative learning shows up in many parts of professional life. You might join a project group, attend a workshop, or take part in a training where you learn from coworkers. Teams that learn together tend to solve problems faster and remember more of what they learn.

If you’ve ever learned something by working with your team, you’ve already used collaborative learning.

13 Practical Examples of Collaborative Learning

1. Think-Pair-Share

Think-Pair-Share is a simple way to get employees to think and talk together. While it started in schools, it works just as well in workplace learning—especially during team training, workshops, or meetings.

Here’s how it works: 

• Think – Everyone takes a minute to quietly think about a question or problem.
• Pair – Then, each person talks with a partner and shares ideas.
• Share – Finally, pairs share what they discussed with the group.

This method helps people feel more prepared before speaking. It also makes it easier for quieter team members to join in. Think-Pair-Share builds useful workplace habits like active listening, thoughtful speaking, and better teamwork.

2. Peer Teaching

Peer teaching is when team members teach each other. Instead of learning only from a trainer or manager, coworkers take turns sharing what they know. It’s a way to learn by explaining.

Each person picks or is assigned a topic to explore. Then, they teach the rest of the group what they’ve learned. This might happen in one-on-one mentoring, small-group sessions, or short presentations during a meeting.

Teaching others helps you understand the material more clearly. You have to break down complex ideas and explain them in a way others can understand. Doing that helps the topic stick.

It also builds useful workplace skills. You become more confident speaking, leading, and supporting your team’s growth.

Some key skills peer teaching helps build include:

• Clear communication
• Leadership and initiative
• Active listening
• Patience and empathy
• Stronger understanding of the topic

You don’t need to be an expert to teach your coworkers. Just share what you know in a way that’s helpful. It’s a simple method that can lead to deeper learning across your team.

3. Group Research Projects

Group research projects are a way for teams to explore a big topic together. Instead of one person doing all the work, the group shares tasks and builds knowledge as a team.

A team leader might introduce a broad focus area—like improving a workflow or understanding a new market trend. From there, the team decides what to explore and how to divide the work. One person might gather data, another might create visuals, while someone else handles the write-up or presentation.

To stay organized, teams often use shared tools like Google Docs or Trello. These tools help plan tasks, track progress, and collaborate in real time.

At the end, everyone contributes to a final deliverable—like a report, strategy deck, or internal training guide. The final result reflects a mix of everyone’s strengths.

This kind of collaboration helps teams build skills such as:

• Research and synthesis
• Task coordination and time management
• Team communication
• Giving and receiving feedback
• Building something meaningful as a group

4. Brainwriting Sessions

Brainwriting is a group activity used to come up with ideas. It’s like brainstorming, but instead of talking out loud, everyone writes their ideas down first. This gives each person time to think without pressure.

Here’s how it works:

Each person gets a paper and silently writes down their ideas about a topic or problem. After a few minutes, the papers are passed to someone else. That person reads what’s already there, then adds new ideas or builds on what’s written.

This goes on for a few rounds. At the end, the group has a list of ideas that many people helped create.

Brainwriting can be helpful because:

• Everyone gets a chance to contribute
• Quieter team members may feel more comfortable writing than speaking
• It allows time to think before sharing
• You can see how ideas grow and improve over time
  It creates a wide mix of thoughts and opinions

This method supports creative thinking without putting anyone on the spot. According to VanGundy (1988), brainwriting often leads to more and better ideas than regular brainstorming because it removes the pressure of speaking in a group. It’s a great way to include all voices in a discussion.

5. Jigsaw Method

The Jigsaw Method is a group learning approach where each team member focuses on a different part of a bigger topic. It works well when the subject is broad and everyone needs to contribute to fully understand the whole picture.

Here’s how it works: A manager or facilitator assigns a larger topic and breaks it into smaller parts. Each person takes one part to focus on. First, team members meet in "expert groups"—small groups of people working on the same subtopic. They research, share insights, and build a solid understanding.

Next, they return to their main team. Each person teaches their section to the rest of the group. When everyone shares what they’ve learned, the full topic comes together.

This method supports:

• Ownership of learning
• Explaining information clearly
• Active listening
• Learning as a team

The Jigsaw Method keeps people engaged and makes sure everyone has a role. It’s especially useful in workplace trainings, project planning, and knowledge-sharing sessions.

6. Debate Teams

Debate teams are a way for professionals to explore a topic from different sides. One group supports an idea, while the other challenges it. The goal is not to argue—but to use facts, logic, and clear thinking to make a strong case.

Each team prepares by researching the topic. They plan key points, anticipate counterarguments, and decide how to respond. This kind of back-and-forth helps everyone think deeper and see the issue from multiple angles.

Debates do more than build knowledge. They help people grow workplace skills like:

• Critical thinking—looking at issues from all sides
• Clear communication—presenting ideas with confidence
• Team collaboration—working together to craft arguments
• Respectful disagreement—listening, responding, and staying professional

Debates can be part of team training, leadership development, or internal discussions about policy or strategy. They’re a structured way to learn and build confidence in expressing ideas.

7. Collaborative Storytelling

Collaborative storytelling is when a group creates a story or scenario together. Each person adds a piece—one might start with the situation, and others add details, steps, or outcomes.

In the workplace, this can be used for team building, creative thinking, or planning. For example, teams might build a customer journey, imagine a future project, or create a case scenario for training.

The story can be spoken or written. It can be serious, creative, or focused on solving a problem. It works well in workshops, retreats, or informal sessions.

Collaborative storytelling helps build:

• Creative thinking
• Group cooperation
• Listening and building on others’ ideas
• Communication and clarity
• Understanding structure and flow

It gives everyone a voice and helps connect ideas in a shared, creative space. It’s a simple activity that brings out new thinking and group connection.

8. Case Study Analysis in Small Groups

Case study analysis is a team activity where coworkers review a real scenario and work together to solve it. A case study presents a problem, some background info, and maybe a bit of data. The team works through the situation and decides what actions to take.

This method is used in many fields—business, healthcare, tech, and more. It turns learning into action by applying concepts to real-life situations.

Each team member brings their own point of view. That mix of perspectives leads to stronger analysis and better solutions. The team also has to explain and support its decisions, which builds clarity and confidence.

Case study work helps build:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Group decision-making
• Team communication
• Perspective taking
• Presenting and justifying solutions

9. Online Discussion Boards

Online discussion boards are online spaces where coworkers can share ideas by writing. They’re helpful when teams work in different time zones or can’t meet at the same time.

Someone—like a manager or team lead—might post a question or topic. Then, people write their thoughts and reply to each other. Because it’s not live, there’s more time to think about what to say.

This method works well for:

• Writing clearly and simply
• Thinking through a topic with others
• Giving helpful feedback
• Making space for quieter team members

These boards give everyone a chance to take part. They work well for remote teams and help people stay connected, even when working apart.

10. Group Problem-Solving Challenges

Group problem-solving challenges are activities where teams work together to figure out a tricky problem or puzzle. These challenges are designed to be complex, so no one person can solve them alone. Everyone needs to join in, share ideas, and help move the group forward.

Teams start by reading the problem. Then, they begin brainstorming—sharing different ideas and strategies to find the best solution. Along the way, they may need to negotiate, test out ideas, and try again if something doesn’t work.

These challenges come in many forms. Some common examples include:

• STEM challenges (like building a bridge from straws)
• Escape rooms with puzzles that must be solved to “unlock” the next step
  Logic puzzles that need strong reasoning and group thinking

Many of these activities are timed. This adds a bit of pressure, but also keeps things exciting and encourages teamwork.

Group problem-solving helps team members build skills such as:

• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Cooperation
• Decision-making
• Time management

11. Design Thinking Workshops

Design thinking workshops are group sessions where teams solve real problems. These problems usually focus on what people need or struggle with.

The process follows five basic steps:

• Empathize: Learn about the people you’re trying to help
• Define: Clearly describe the problem
• Ideate: Brainstorm many possible ideas
• Prototype: Build a simple version of your best idea
• Test: Try it out and see what works or needs to change

Teams move through these steps together. They make changes along the way as they learn more. This back-and-forth process is called iterative thinking.

Design thinking is common in areas like business, product design, and user experience. It teaches you to start with people, not just the task.

These workshops help teams build:

• Creative thinking
• Research and observation
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork

12. Role-Playing Scenarios

Role-playing is a group activity where coworkers act out real or common situations. Each person takes on a role—like a customer, team lead, or client—and responds as that person might.

These scenarios can be written in advance or made up on the spot. Scripts are useful when you're learning new skills. Improv is helpful when you want to think fast and practice responding in the moment.

Common workplace role-play topics include:

• Customer service practice
• Handling conflict between coworkers
• Leading meetings or interviews
• Giving feedback or resolving issues

Role-playing helps teams build real-time skills such as:

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Empathy
• Active listening
• Speaking with confidence

It’s a hands-on way to learn how to deal with real challenges in a safe setting.

13. Co-creation of Team Guidelines

Co-creation of team guidelines means coworkers help shape the way the team works together. Instead of a manager setting all the rules, everyone joins in to decide what’s fair and useful.

At the start of a project or new team setup, people talk about what makes a respectful, safe, and productive space. They might share ideas about how to communicate, manage time, give feedback, or handle disagreements. The team agrees on a final list together.

These guidelines can be written down and adjusted as needed. This shows that rules are not just about control—they’re about helping the team do their best work.

Creating rules as a group helps build:

• Shared responsibility
• Leadership and ownership
• Respect for others’ ideas
• Better group decision-making
• Clear and open communication

Why Collaborative Learning Works So Well

Collaborative learning works because it brings people together to learn from each other. Instead of learning alone, you work in a group where everyone shares ideas, listens, and helps each other grow.

One big benefit is that it builds communication and leadership skills. You learn how to speak clearly, listen closely, and guide others when needed. These are skills that matter in school, at work, and in everyday life.

It also encourages active learning—you’re not just watching or listening, but doing. Talking through ideas and solving problems as a group leads to deeper understanding.

Another reason it works is that team members with different strengths can help one another. Someone who understands the topic well can explain it in a simple way. Someone else might ask a good question that makes the whole group think differently.

Collaborative learning also encourages:

• Accountability—you do your part because others are counting on you
• Mutual respect—you listen and learn from different points of view
• Confidence—sharing your thoughts helps you feel more sure of yourself

How to Implement Collaborative Learning in the Workplace Effectively

To get the most out of collaborative learning, you need a clear plan. When team members understand what’s expected and feel comfortable speaking up, they’re more likely to participate and learn from each other.

Start by setting clear goals. Let people know what needs to be done and why it matters. Clear expectations help keep everyone on track.

It can also help to assign roles. For example, one person can take notes, another can keep time, and someone else can lead the discussion. Roles give everyone a task and keep the group organized.

It’s just as important to create a respectful space. Make sure all voices are welcome. Encourage people to listen, ask questions, and support each other’s ideas.

When working remotely or on shared tasks, simple tools can make a big difference:

• Google Docs: for writing and editing together
• Trello: for tracking progress and tasks
• Slack or chat apps: for quick updates and check-ins

These tools help everyone stay in the loop and contribute, even if they’re working at different times.

Conclusion:

Collaborative learning helps employees grow by working together, sharing skills, and solving problems as a team. In this post, we looked at 13 real examples—like peer mentoring, cross-team projects, and group brainstorming—that show how learning with others makes work better. These methods don’t just build skills—they also build trust and stronger teams.

Take a moment to think about which of these examples could work for your team, then pick one to try this week. Starting small can lead to big changes.