Cooperative learning is an approach to organizing classroom activities into academic and social learning experiences. Students must work in groups to complete the two sets of tasks collectively. Everyone succeeds when the group succeeds.
Cooperative Learning has 5 basic elements:
- Positive Interdependence requires that group members feel connected to each other in the process of accomplishing the goal.
- Positive Interdependence encompasses 9 sub-categories:
- goal - the expected outcome of the activity
- incentive; the reason the group wishes to complete the task
- resource; the tools needed to complete the task
- role; roles assigned to students to ensure each person contributes
- sequence; steps to completing the task
- simulation; the alternative mindset needed to complete the goal
- outside force; something limiting the time or used as a driving force
- environmental; that every group member is in close proximity to one another
- identity; that the group feels connected in one team.
Individual Accountability means that every group member is responsible for being able to demonstrate understanding and comprehension of the learned academic expectations and social goals.
Face to Face Interaction suggests that the group must participate by communicating and discussing the goal.
Social Skills include listening, body language, sharing, accepting ideas and differences, etc. These are the skills needed prior to or being developed during the group work.
Processing is when the students assess their efforts as a group and can pin point areas of improvement in their social skills.
When doing activities in Cooperative Learning it is important to do a Contact Activity to ensure that the group has a basis for comfortable communication and feel open to one another.
Benefits include: higher self esteem, achievement and retention of academic information
- social support
- positive school attitude
- positive attitude towards educators and classmates
- on-task behaviour
- collaborative skills
- increase in level of reasoning
Considerations include:
- sometimes manipulation of groups may be necessary
- some students may not respond well in forced group situations
- time consuming
- it is important to be alert and promoting success
Sources
- Where Heart Meets Mind: B. Bennett, C. Rolheiser-Bennett, L. Stevann
- http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm
- http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/coop/index.html
- Cooperative Learning: Integrating Theory and Practive: Robyn M. Gillies
See also
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