Which instructional strategy encourages collaboration among students?

The choice of interactive as the instructional strategy that encourages collaboration among students is highly appropriate. Interactive strategies are designed to engage students not just in the content, but also with each other, fostering a collaborative learning environment. This approach can include group discussions, peer teaching, and cooperative learning activities, all of which require students to communicate, share ideas, and work together to solve problems or complete tasks.

By promoting interaction, this strategy helps develop important social skills such as teamwork, negotiation, and the ability to consider different perspectives. Collaborative learning environments encourage students to take an active role in their education, increasing motivation and retention of knowledge through shared experiences.

Other strategies mentioned, such as independent, direct, and experimental, typically do not focus on student collaboration to the same extent. Independent strategies emphasize solo work, direct teaching often relies on teacher-centered approaches, and experimental activities may involve individual exploration rather than teamwork. Thus, the interactive strategy stands out for its core emphasis on collaboration among students.