How to Teach Students Collaborative Problem Solving Skills

Access Essential Skills Slides HereIn this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, host Amanda Werner dives into the essential skill of collaborative problem solving. This episode is part of a broader series focusing on the critical skills needed for students' futures. Amanda provides practical strategies for teaching collaborative problem solving in the classroom and emphasizes the importance of teaching these skills explicitly. She discusses the differences between group work and true collaboration, shares classroom scenarios and personal experiences, and offers a step-by-step process to help students effectively work together. Listeners are encouraged to access student-facing slideshows via the Essential Skills Slideshows link in the show notes for ready-to-use classroom materials.00:00 Introduction to Collaborative Problem Solving02:08 Understanding Collaborative Problem Solving03:19 Common Classroom Scenarios04:08 Teaching Collaborative Skills Explicitly07:29 Key Points for Effective Collaboration11:19 Classroom Project Example16:04 Steps for Collaborative Problem Solving19:02 Addressing Group Work Challenges28:27 Final Thoughts and Reflection