The Benefits Of Cooperative Learning!

                                                           

What is cooperative learning?

Cooperative learning is a teaching strategy, which involves students working in small groups on various activities aimed to improve their understanding of the curriculum. Each group is composed heterogeneously based on their academic standing. By having students work in small groups, each student takes an active role in their learning. Students are not solely responsible for their learning, but also for assisting one another. Each group works on various tasks until all members effectively understand and grasp the task at hand.

Why use cooperative learning?

Research has shown that of all classroom grouping strategies, cooperative learning may be the most flexible and powerful. 

Positive results of cooperative learning include:

•  Increase in student learning and academic merit. 
•  Increase in student engagement.
•  Increase in oral communication.
•  Increase in positive race relations. 

Elements of cooperative learning

Educators who are extremely committed to using cooperative learning must create a productive atmosphere vs. a competitive one. 

In order to get the most from cooperative learning, educators must implement the following five conditions:

• Positive Interdependence- Each member is given a role in the learning process. This ensures that students work together to succeed.

• Face-to-face interaction- Students communicate their thought process with one another. Students elaborate and contribute to one another's ideas. Students assist each other in arriving to the solution.

• Group accountability- All students are required to participate in group work. Educators can check for understanding by orally assessing students through questions or giving individual assessments. This will ensure that students were on task and focused during collaboration.

• Interpersonal skills- Students work together to create a relationship of trust with one another. Students are given opportunities to be leaders and resolve conflicts if they should arrive.

• Group processing- Students are given the opportunity to reflect on their learning. They work together to resolve behaviors that are not beneficial to the group, but also acknowledge how well they are achieving their goals.

Activities that implement cooperative learning
The following are activities educators can implement in the classroom. The activities encourage cooperative learning in fun, meaningful ways.

• Jigsaw- Students are placed in small groups of no more than five students. Each member in the group is given material to learn and relay back to the remaining members of the group. To assist students in their learning, students who are given the same topic to learn, work together in deciding what is important and how to teach it. Upon gathering information on designated topic, students return to their original groups to teach one another.

• Think-Pair-Share – This strategy involves students working through their thought process together. Educators begin by posing a question to the class as a whole. Students then reflect on the question on their own. After a few minutes, students then share their responses with a designated partner. This step allows students to further their thinking. Upon working with a partner, students then share their thoughts with a small group. This strategy aims at organizing an extending a student’s thought process.

• Round Robin Brainstorming- This strategy involves students working together in brainstorming and sharing their thought process. This strategy involves the educator posing a question to the class. The class is broken in to teams of four. Upon posing the question, students are then given a few minutes to think about their responses. One student from the group is chosen as recorder, and must ensure that everyone in the team contributes. 

Cooperative learning: Where do I start?

Cooperative learning is a strategy any educator can implement in their classroom. By better understanding the strategy, educators can begin creating an atmosphere of teamwork in their very own classroom.

Below are articles for educators containing additional resources pertaining to cooperative learning. 

• Cooperative Learning Resources    
• Classroom Compass 
• Cooperative Learning 
• Teaching Tips

Cooperative learning: What does it look like?

Cooperative learning groups consist of 4 to 5 students working together on an assigned task. Students share their responses, motivate each other to succeed, and assit one another in creating their understanding.

In the following clip, two students are sharing their thought process with one another. The teacher has chosen to use the, think-pair-share strategy, in which partners share their rationale before sharing with their small group.

Overall:
Cooperative learning is a strategy all educators should consider. By having students work in small groups, they are engaged in meaningful dialogue, content, and activities. Students become active participants in their learning, while assisting one another.

Credits:

David and Roger Johnson. "Cooperative Learning." [Online] 15 October 2001. <http://www.clcrc.com/pages/cl.html>.
David and Roger Johnson. "An Overview of Cooperative Learning." [Online] 15 October 2001. <http://www.clcrc.com/pages/overviewpaper.html>.
Howard Community College's Teaching Resources. "Ideas on Cooperative Learning and the use of Small Groups." [Online] 15 October 2001.<http://www.howardcc.edu/profdev/resources/learning/groups1.htm>.
Kagan, S. Kagan Structures for Emotional Intelligence. Kagan Online Magazine. 2001, 4(4). http://www.kaganonline.com/Newsletter/index.html


Reference
Kagan, Spencer. Cooperative Learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing, 1994.www.KaganOnline.com