Watching high school freshmen navigate a collaborative project for the first time is a delight, or should I say watching them cross the "finish line" is a source of pride for all involved. Think of it like teaching your child to ride a bike, only this is a tandem bike built for six.
There is a growing body of research that suggests that learning as part of a group, be it in a hackerspace or a college study group, is much more effective, engaging, and efficient than learning on one's own.