Cooperative learning is seen as working in a group, whereas collaborative learning is seen as working as a group. This difference is important in educational settings, because the objectives of those two phrases are completely different. 

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- Collaborative learning is what is more commonly thought of when “group work” is mentioned. This could be a group project in, or out of class, in which participants need to consistently communicate with each other to succeed, and hopefully contribute an even amount of the team’s success.

Collaborative Learning Example

In a cooperative learning setting, participants may just be sitting near each other, like in grouped seating arrangements in classrooms. They could ask each other for assistance if needed, but that’s not a necessary aspect of cooperative learning. 

Cooperative Learning Example

Chiriac, E. H. (2014, June 5). Group work as an incentive for learning – students' experiences of group work. Frontiers. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00558/full 

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