Cooperative Learning

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. -Mark Van Doren

What is Cooperative Learning?

Cooperative Learning is…

a well-researched instructional strategy which simultaneously addresses academic and social skills.

a strategy that has been reported to be highly successful in the classroom.

According to Roger and David Johnson, University of Minnesota:

“Students who work cooperatively on learning tasks tend to relate more positively to their peers, to view learning as more positive and to learn more information.”

Source: Roger and David Johnson, University of Minnesota, pg 21

Cooperative Learning and its process

Positive Interdependence: Structuring goals and activities so that students must be concerned about the performance of all members of a group.

Individual Accountability: Every student is accountable for mastering the material.

Face-to-Face Interaction: Students arranged in a way that facilitates actively sharing and discussing the content.

Teaching Collaborative Skills: Important group skills to teach students

Processing Group Skills: Monitor and reinforce skills learned in cooperative learning.

To ensure that students understand the learning goals and assessment associated with the activity.

To take time to help students understand the reasons behind their decision to implement this method.

To help students become better acquainted.

To assist students in developing skills for working in groups.

To ensure that assessment methods help hold the group and individuals accountable for the goals of the group work.

Teachers utilizing cooperative learning have five responsibilities:

What are the key elements of Cooperative Learning?

Positive Interdependence“We can do it together!”

Each group member’s input is… necessary for the group’s success unique compared to that of other members’ required by teacher-created evaluation

guidelines used to share materials, roles, goals, rewards

or resources

Source: http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm

Face-to-Face Interaction“I’ll help you, and we’ll finish together!”

Students… Help explain the assignment to others Share their own knowledge to increase the group’s

understanding Discuss the topic while learning Connect personal experiences and prior learning with

task at hand

Source: http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm

Individual/Group Accountability“We all have to do our part!”

For successful cooperative learning… Small group size ensures all members’ participation Include solo and group assessments Randomly-selected members share group findings “Quality control” officers keep groups on task Students teach others what they have learned

Source: http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm

Interpersonal Skills“How can we work together to accomplish this?”

Cooperative learning reinforces… Leadership Decision-making Trust-building Communication Conflict Management

Source: http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm

Group Processing“What did we learn here?”

To ensure that the assignment succeeded… Group members should continually assess

their learning and assignment progress Students should provide feedback about how

helpful the tasks were The class as a whole should determine which

activities should be continued

Source: http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm

Why use Cooperative Learning?

Cooperative Learning enhances student learning by: Improving students’ academic achievement

Increasing students’ self-confidence and motivation

Increasing students’ liking of school and fellow classmates

Preparing students for success outside of the classroom

Cooperative Learning improves students’ academic achievement.

promotes student learning through more active participation

motivates students to learn the material

increases student retention of material

results in greater student productivity

Cooperative Learning increases students’ self-confidence & motivation. provides students with an opportunity to construct

their own knowledge

helps students to further develop their oral communication skills

promotes students’ self-esteem, social competence, and psychological health

enhances students’ satisfaction with their learning experience

Cooperative Learningincreases students’ liking ofschool & classmates.

promotes positive interaction between members of different cultural and socio-economic groups

creates more caring, supportive and committed student relationships

provides a shared cognitive set of information between students

improves student attendance

Cooperative Learning prepares students for success outside of the classroom promotes the importance of working together to reach

goals

provides students with the ability to communicate, cooperate, assess, and delegate

stresses the significance of students getting along with and communicating with others

Activity II: Mac or PC?

Group One will research the advantages and disadvantages of using a PC.

Group Two will research the advantages and disadvantages of using a Mac.

The recorder will record on a T-chart, and the presenter will present the research to the class.

Materials: Internet, art materials

Cooperative Learning in Action

A 1998 survey revealed that 93% of elementary teachers use cooperative learning in the classroom.

This survey also indicated that cooperative learning enhanced

students progress socially

& academically.

In closing…

Cooperative Learning is relatively easy to implement and is inexpensive.

The positive effects that cooperation has on so many important outcomes makes cooperative learning one of the most valuable tools educators have.