Cooperative Learning

 

In human societies the individuals who are most likely to survive are those who are best enabled to do so by their group. 

Reading different articles and doing some research, I discovered that the focus of most teachers is in relating the students with the materials they give. Until mid sixties cooperative learning was unknown or just ignored by the teachers. This is such a pity now that I know how many benefits has cooperative learning in students

Cooperation is working together to accomplish shared goals.  Within cooperative situations, individuals seek outcomes that are beneficial to themselves and beneficial to all other group members. Cooperative learning is the instructional use of small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each other’s learning.

In cooperative learning, students work together in small groups to complete a structured task or goal.

Types Of Cooperative Learning

1. Formal Cooperative Learning

2. Informal Cooperative Learning

3. Cooperative Base Groups

4. Integrated Use Of All Three Types Of Cooperative Learning

One example of cooperative learning

Jigsaw

An example of a very popular cooperative learning activity that teachers use is jigsaw, where each student is required to research one section of the material and then teach it to the other members of the group. Just like a jigsaw puzzle, each piece or section is put together at the end, and only then does the entire picture make sense.

For example, imagine you've been placed in a group that has been tasked with researching the life of a famous scientist. In jigsaw, you and the members of your group would each be responsible for researching certain periods of his life. Let's say there are four members of your group. You are responsible for researching his childhood, and the other members of your group are responsible for other periods of his life. When you are finished with your individual research, you report what you've learned to the other members of your group. Once everyone is finished with their reports, you have a complete picture of his entire life.

In this way, jigsaw activities are specifically structured so that the only access any member has to all of the information is through the work of other members. So, if you don't listen to someone in your group, you won't know the information and won't do well on the test that follows.

As a cooperative learning activity, jigsaw provides a very efficient way for students to learn. Cooperative learning also has a number of other advantages. For example, as they work together, students learn how to socialize, solve problems, and handle conflict. Additionally, learning to cooperate with others is vital for success later in life. Almost every company that a student will work for is likely to require them to work in a group at some point.

Basic Elements of Cooperation

The first and most important element is positive interdependence.

The second essential element of cooperative learning is individual and group accountability.

The third essential component of cooperative learning is promotive interaction, preferably face-to-face.

The fourth essential element of cooperative learning is teaching students the required interpersonal and small group skills.

The fifth essential component of cooperative learning is group processing.

Research shows cooperative learning helps to produce:

Higher achievement.

Increased retention.

More positive relationships and a wider circle of friends.

Greater intrinsic motivation.

Higher self-esteem.

Greater social support.

More on-task behavior.

Better attitudes toward teachers.

Better attitudes toward school.

To conclude, I am very happy that we had such a topic for this week's blog. Searching for one thing led to another related with cooperative learning and I really like to use this way of studying in my classes. After all, the students not just socialize but they learn so much from each other in a way that will help them for the future.