Collaborative learning
Collaborative learning is a situation in which two or more people learn or attempt to learn something together
(Bruffee, 1993). Johnson & Johnson (1999) proposed positive interdependence, individual accountability, face to
face interaction, social skills and group processing as the five basic elements of collaborative learning, and the
grouping strategies were essential to meet the needs of the five basic elements. Dillenbourg, Baker, Blaye, &
O’Malley (1996) suggested that heterogeneous groups could be beneficial as a condition to trigger conflicts and
require negotiation and social grounding, in addition, Setlock, Fussell, & Neuworth (2004) suggested that
experimental groups with homogenous and heterogeneous cultural backgrounds had different perceptions of the
study task. With respect to this importance, the rules for grouping such as heterogeneity in a group and homogeneity
between groups were decided in terms of students’ features such as gender, age, learning style, knowledge base, and
cultural background.