Collaborative problem solving reflects a complex skill set in high demand in our increasingly multifaceted local, national, and global contexts. Collaborative problem solving is defined as the capacity of an individual to effectively engage in a process whereby two or more people attempt to solve a problem by sharing the understanding and effort required to come to a solution and pooling their knowledge, skills, and efforts to reach that solution.

Despite its recognized importance as a developmental imperative, international studies of adolescents indicate that only one-third of 15-year-olds are proficient at collaborative problem solving—but students in racially and culturally diverse schools and those participating in group-based extracurricular activities (e.g., sports teams, band) are more likely to be proficient than their peers."

- Jagers et al., 2021

Step 1: Write

After reviewing the opening quote above, please respond to the following questions in your Journal Space:

How can you intentionally design classroom activities that promote collaborative problem-solving among students of different backgrounds and skill levels?
How can you intentionally design classroom activities that promote collaborative problem-solving among students of different backgrounds and skill levels?
How can school staff create opportunities outside the classroom, such as through sports, clubs or schoolwide initiatives, to help students strengthen their collaborative problem-solving skills?

Step 2: Read

To learn more about what collaborative problem-solving looks like in practice, read the article below. The author shares a process for how staff can work together to solve a problem. As you read it, think about how this could be applied in your context.

Article - A Protocol for Collaborative Problem-Solving

Step 3: Explore

Below are various methods to support collaborative problem-solving in school: general collaborative problem-solving approaches, project-based learning (PBL) and youth participatory action research (YPAR). Explore the following resources to expand your knowledge of collaborative problem-solving and learn strategies for integrating this skill into your classroom practice.

General Collaborative Problem-Solving Approaches

A resource offering a variety of tools, guides and case studies to support educators in implementing Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) within their classrooms, fostering collaboration and problem-solving skills.
- Article - Teaching Collaborative Problem Solving With Brain Juicing

Project-Based Learning

Understand how project-based learning (PBL) can be used as a framework for developing collaborative problem-solving skills. This article provides insights into how PBL can be broken into smaller, manageable tasks that encourage collaboration.
- Article - Breaking Down the Complex Work of Teaching PBL Into Manageable Chunks
Learn age-appropriate strategies for scaffolding collaborative problem-solving in younger students. This resource focuses on methods to support early learners as they engage in group work and problem solving.
- Article - 6 Strategies for Scaffolding PBL in First and Second Grade
This article explores how elementary students used AI tools in a PBL unit to design a Lego cityscape. The project fostered collaboration, helped students develop prompt engineering skills and demonstrated AI’s role in creativity and problem-solving.
- Article - A Lego PBL Unit That Fosters Collaboration

Youth Participatory Action Research

Explore the YPAR model, which allows students to collaborate in research that addresses community issues. This model emphasizes student agency and collaborative problem-solving while making learning meaningful.
- Video - Introduction to Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)
A resource offering a variety of tools, guides and case studies to support educators in implementing YPAR within their classrooms, fostering collaboration and problem-solving skills.
- Website - UC Berkeley’s YPAR Hub