Skip to Content
Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Collaborative learning

Overview

  • Influence: Collaborative learning
  • Domain: Teaching Strategies
  • Sub-Domain: Instructional strategies
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Potential to accelerate
  • Influence Definition: Programs where two or more students collaborate on a learning task, whether by following a course of study or by attempting to solve a problem. This practice might involve face-to-face or electronically mediated interactions.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 17
  • Number of studies: 1,051
  • Number of students: 27,566
  • Number of effects: 1,178
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.47
  • Robustness index: 5

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Report Williams The impact of collaborative, scaffolded learning in K-12 schools: A meta-analysis. 2009 Collaborative learning 29 3,029 29 0.29
Computers and Education Borokhovski, Bernard, Tamim, Schmid, & Sokolovskaya Technology-supported student interaction in post-secondary education: A meta-analysis of designed versus contextual treatments 2016 Collaborative learning mediated via ICT 45 NA 45 0.35
Distance Education Borokhovski, Tamim, Bernard, Abrami, & Sokolovskaya Are contextual and designed student–student interaction treatments equally effective in distance education? 2012 Collaborative learning mediated via ICT in distance education 32 3,634 36 0.31
Learning Disabilities Research and Practice Kunsch, Jitendra, & Sood The Effects of Peer-Mediated Instruction in Mathematics for Students with Learning Problems: A Research Synthesis 2007 Peer mediated instruction in math with LD students 17 1,103 17 0.47
Review of Educational Research Chen, Wang, Kirscher, & Tsai The role of collaboration, computer use, learning environments, and supporting strategies in CSCL: A meta-analysis 2018 Collaborative learning mediated via ICT 356 NA 297 0.45
Conference paper Jannsen Opening the black box of collaborative learning: A meta-analysis investigating process-oriented studies. 2014 Collaborative learning 124 NA 124 0.39
Journal of Educational Psychology Tenenbaum, Winstone, Leman, & Avery How effective is peer interaction in facilitating learning? A meta-analysis. 2019 Peer interaction 62 7,103 71 0.40
Education Research Review Jeong, Hmelo-Silver, & Jo Ten years of computer-support collaborative learning: A meta-analysis of CSCL in STEM education during 2005-2014. 2019 Collaborative learning mediated via ICT 143 NA 316 0.51
Dissertation Ravinder The effect of collaborative learning on enhancing student achievement: A meta-analysis 2017 Collaborative learning 28 2,434 28 0.26
Egitim ve Bilim-Education and Science Kaldirim & Tavsanli The effect of collaborative learning approach on students' academic achievement in Turkish courses in Turkey: A meta-analysis study. 2018 Collaborative learning 32 NA 32 1.03
Educational Research Review Saqr, Elmoazen, Tedre, López-Pernas, & Hirsto How well centrality measures capture student achievement in computer-supported collaborative learning?–A systematic review and meta-analysis.  2022 Collaborative learning 8 1,619 8 0.24
Harran Education Journal Bakioglu & Gaktas The Impact of Collaborative Learning on Success in Secondary School Mathematics and Science Courses : A Meta-Analysis Study 2020 Collaborative learning 56 5,807 56 0.47
International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology Talan The effect of computer-supported collaborative learning on academic achievement: A meta-analysis study. 2021 Computer assisted collaborative learning 40 NA 40 0.51
Bilingual Research Journal Cole Rompiendo el silencio: Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of peer-mediated learning at improving language outcomes for ELLs.  2013 Peer mediator learning 41 NA 41 0.53
Universal Journal of Educational Research Bicer The Influence of Student-Centered Methods in Turkish Language Instruction on Academic Success: A Meta-Analysis Study.  2017 Collaborative learning 6 NA 6 0.82
?????? Wang A Meta-Analysis of Peer-Peer Interaction in L2 English Speaking Assessment.  2014 Peer to peer interaction 9 NA 9 0.89
International Journal on Social and Education Sciences Alnajjar & Ibrahim A Comparative Meta-Analysis on the Effectiveness of Three Types of Instructional Methods on Language Success.  2024 Collaborative learning 23 2,837 23 0.90
TOTAL/AVERAGE 1,051 27,566 1,178 0.52
Back to top