The author suggests that group assignments that require students to work together in order to accomplish a task, such as a term paper, should be substituted for traditional lecture-based instruction in college and university courses. However, I believe this claim is flawed, especially due to recent findings that have shown the positive effects of collaborative learning

The traditional lecture-based classroom model has worked for hundreds of years. During that time, students have passively listened to professors expound on subject matter. The teacher then summarized the lecture for the students and gave them some homework. Students did little but answer the questions that were asked in the homework, and the professor moved on to the next topic. The grading scale was based upon submitted homework assignments, tests, and exams. Students were allowed to read the required textbooks in class, but they did not actively participate during the lectures or discussions. This passive approach to learning worked well for most of the last century. However, as our world becomes increasingly competitive and complex, students need more than passive learning to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to succeed

Students need to learn how to communicate effectively, think critically and creatively, and collaborate. All of these skills can be taught through group assignments, and those assignments can be more effective in helping students develop those skills than traditional lecture-based instruction

When students are assigned to work together to complete individual or group tasks, they learn how to communicate, think critically, and collaborate. Their ability to communicate effectively is strengthened through the exchange of ideas, and they learn how to listen and communicate effectively. When students work together on group projects, they learn how to work together effectively, and they learn how to resolve conflicts. When students are required to write papers or participate in discussions, they learn how to organize their thoughts and write coherently. Collaborative learning is the best way to teach students to think critically. Everyone is given equal voice and a chance to participate, and students must work together to solve the problem that is presented. Additionally, collaborative assignments provide students with an opportunity to be creative and think outside the box. Students may choose to work individually, but they must also work together as members of a group. When they come up with a creative solution to the problem, they learn how to communicate their ideas effectively

Collaborative assignments are more effective than traditional lecture-based instruction in teaching students how to communicate, think critically, and collaborate. However, lecture-based instruction is still beneficial. Students still benefit from hearing the ideas presented by a professor. By listening to and taking notes on the lecture, students develop listening skills. Additionally, the lecture provides students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills. The professor, by analyzing and synthesizing the information, helps the students practice their critical thinking. Furthermore, the lecture provides a springboard for the discussion group assignments. When students are required to think critically about the lecture and use the information that they learned about a topic in discussion groups, they practice their critical thinking skills. The professor can guide the discussion and provide the students with feedback, and the students can learn from each other’s ideas

The author asserts that collaborative instruction must be substituted for traditional lecture-based instruction in college and university courses. He bases his assertion on the fact that collaborative learning is more effective than passive learning. However, he does not provide sufficient evidence to support that claim. Although collaborative learning can be effective, traditional lecture-based instruction is still beneficial to students. It teaches them how to communicate, think critically, and collaborate, and it provides them with the opportunity to practice these skills. Furthermore, some students learn more effectively by listening to a lecture than by listening to other students present their ideas. Therefore, collaborative teaching is not a substitute for traditional lecture-based instruction.