Cooperative Learning
Cooperative
Learning involves structuring classes around small groups that work together in
such a way that each group member's success is dependent on the group's
success. There are different kinds of groups for different situations, but they
all balance some key elements that distinguish cooperative learning from
competitive or individualistic learning.
Cooperative
learning can also be contrasted with what it is not. Cooperation is not having
students sit side-by-side at the same table to talk with each other as they do
their individual assignments. Cooperation is not assigning a report to a group
of students where one student does all the work and the others put their names
on the product as well. Cooperation involves much more than being physically
near other students, discussing material, helping, or sharing material with
other students. There is a crucial difference between simply putting students
into groups to learn and in structuring cooperative interdependence among
students.
Why Use Cooperative Learning?
-Extensive
research has compared cooperative learning with traditional classroom
instruction using the same teachers, curriculum, and assessments. On the
average:
-Students
who engage in cooperative learning learn significantly more, remember it
longer, and develop better critical-thinking skills than their counterparts in
traditional lecture classes.
-Students
enjoy cooperative learning more than traditional lecture classes, so they are
more likely to attend classes and finish the course.
-Students
are going to go on to jobs that require teamwork. Cooperative learning helps
students develop the skills necessary to work on projects too difficult and
complex for any one person to do in a reasonable amount of time.
-Cooperative
learning processes prepare students to assess outcomes linked to accreditation.
How to Use Cooperative
Learning
Cooperative learning exercises can
be as simple as a five minute in class exercise or as complex as a project
which crosses class periods. These can be described more generally in terms of
low, medium, and high faculty/student time investment.
Cooperative learning can be used
across a wide range of classroom settings ranging from small to large lecture,
as well as in online classes.
No matter what the setting is,
properly designing and implementing cooperative learning involves five key
steps. Following these steps is critical to ensuring that the five key elements
that differentiate cooperative learning from simply putting students into
groups are met.
Cooperative Learning Techniques
Cooperative
learning techniques can be loosely categorized by the skill that each enhances
(Barkley, Cross and Major, 2005), although it is important to recognize that
many cooperative learning exercises can be developed to fit within multiple
categories. Categories include: discussion, reciprocal teaching, graphic
organizers, writing and problem solving. Each category includes a number of
potential structures to guide the development of a cooperative learning
exercise. For example, the category of problem-solving helps to develop
strategic and analytical skills and includes exercises such as the
send-a-problem, three-stay one-stray, structured problem solving, and
analytical teams.
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