Cooperative learning is an educational approach that organizes classroom activities into academic and social learning experiences through group work. It has five basic elements: positive interdependence, individual and group accountability, interpersonal skills, promotive interaction, and group processing. Cooperative learning can raise achievement, build relationships, and develop both learning and social skills. There are three types of groups - informal, formal, and base groups - which differ based on duration and structure. Advantages include improved learning outcomes compared to individual work, engagement, peer teaching, and development of collaboration skills. Disadvantages include the burden of group responsibility and potential lack of challenge or stimulation for some students.
2. COOPERATIVE LEARNING
Cooperative learning is an educational approach
which aims to organize classroom activities into
academic and social learning experiences.
There is much more to cooperative learning than
merely arranging students into groups, and it has
been described as "structuring positive
interdependence."
3. The five basic elements/Characteristics of cooperative
learning are:
1. Positive interdependence.
2. Individual and group accountability.
3. Interpersonal and small group skills.
4. Face-to-face promotive interaction.
5. Group processing.
4. Importance of Cooperative Learning
1. Raise achievement of students.
2. Build positive relationships among
students - important for creating
a learning community that values
diversity.
3. Provide experiences that develop both
good learning skills and social skills.
5. Types of Cooperative Learning
There are three main types of
cooperative learning groups:
1. informal learning groups,
2. formal cooperative groups and
3. cooperative base groups.
6. Informal Learning Groups
1. These groups are short term and not
very structured.
2. They typically involve activities where
classmates turn to a neighbour to discuss
a problem or concept for a few minutes.
3. Informal groups are generally small,
usually two but no more than three
people.
4. It’s most convenient to use informal
learning groups for quick activities such
as checking for understanding,
brainstorming, quick problem solving,
summarising, or review.
5. These groups are a great way to change
up a lecture format by giving students a
few minutes to discuss a concept with a
peer.
7. Formal Learning Groups
Formal learning groups are assigned a task or
project and stay together until it is complete.
There is a clear structure to these groups set
by the teacher that includes task and
behaviour expectations.
Formal learning groups can be heterogenous
or homogeneous, depending on the
assignment.
Most groups perform well with three to four
people, any more than five can become
unproductive.
Doing a project, solving a series of problems,
reviewing for a test, or writing a report are all
examples of how formal learning groups can
be used in a classroom.
8. Cooperative Base Groups
These groups are different from the previous
two in that they are long term support
groups.
Base groups should last for a minimum of a
semester but can be anywhere up to several
years.
Since they are long term commitments,
typically these groups become more than just
academic problem solving groups.
Members in base groups often become a
personal support system for each other,
building relationships and trust during the
duration of their cooperative learning process.
The goal of cooperative base groups is that
the members develop peer accountability and
support each other while learning together.
9. Advantages of cooperative Learning
1. It has been shown to have a positive effect on student learning when compared to
individual or competitive conditions
2. It has the potential to produce a level of engagement that other forms of learning
cannot
3. Students may explain things better to another student than a teacher to a class.
Students learn how to teach one another and explain material in their own words
4. Questions are more likely to be asked and answered in a group setting
5. Positive interdependency is achieved as individuals feel that they cannot succeed
unless everyone in their group succeeds
6. Interpersonal and collaboration skills can be learned in a cooperative learning activity
7. Cooperative learning has the potential to meet more learning style needs more of the
time than individualized direct instruction
8. Sends the symbolic message that the class is egalitarian and classless
9. Higher ability students are in a position to be experts, leaders, models and teachers;
lower ability students get the benefits of having higher ability students in their group.
10. Disdvantages of cooperative Learning
1. A burden is making the students responsible for each other’s learning apart from
themselves
2. One study showed that in groups of mixed ability, low-achieving students become
passive and do not focus on the task
3. Depending on an individual’s motivation and interest on a particular subject that will
determine how well they would learn
4. The goal of scaffolding is for students to become independent and able to think by
themselves, without the help of others
5. High stakes create increased chances for conflict and therefore need for conflict
resolution skills
6. It is difficult for the teacher to be sure that the groups are discussing the academic
content rather than something else.
7. Higher ability students may not experience the stimulation or challenge that they
would with other higher ability students.
8. Lower ability students may feel perpetually in need of help rather than experiencing
the role of leader or expert relative to the others in their group
