Cooperative learning involves small group work for regular homework and classwork. Benefits include increased discussion and social skills, but teachers must consider individual accountability and potential pitfalls for students with disabilities or behavioral issues. CL can be used all the time or occasionally, and some courses offer the option of a traditional or CL environment.
Cooperative learning (CL) is a type of educational strategy that is gaining popularity and can be used successfully in a variety of learning environments. Instead of each student learning without the help of other students, much of the class work in a cooperative learning situation is done in small groups. This does not usually mean that students occasionally work on a group project together. Instead, it means that students regularly work on homework together and may have a specific group they belong to for a particular semester or school year.
Supporters of cooperative learning say there are many benefits to this type of learning environment. Students not only learn the material, they can learn better because they have more time to contribute and discuss the material. Shy students may feel more comfortable sharing thoughts and ideas in small groups than with a whole class. Groupings of successful students can foster more social and cooperative behavior, which is a very useful skill in many real-life situations.
There are a few ways teachers can help build successful cooperative learning environments. As individual accountability is still important, teachers may choose to provide both group testing and individual testing. Assessment which can be partly based on group work and partly based on individual performance can help allay students’ fears that they would typically perform better outside of a group. This includes some gifted students, who may not always benefit in cooperative learning situations and may feel that lower levels of academic achievement by the group will negatively impact grades.
Teachers also need to be aware of the potential pitfalls of students who may not be able to perform at the level of most other students due to learning disabilities or behavioral issues. In a cooperative learning situation, it should not be the group’s responsibility to check on other group members on a regular basis. A person who cannot make a meaningful contribution to the group may need a different learning environment. One person’s inability to keep up with the pack can sink an entire team if the majority of grades are based on team performance. This does not mean that a child with a learning disability cannot do well in cooperative learning classrooms, but teachers need to consider how best to position these students to contribute rather than detract from other students.
There can be a great benefit to CL education. There’s a lot to be said for the idea that students can make great teachers for each other. Clearly defining a group’s tasks helps strengthen it. If students can’t leave an activity until everyone in the group understands it, this could be an incredibly effective way to reinforce class material. Students have to worry about how they and their group members behave, and this can be achieved by receiving group grades on certain projects.
Some teachers use cooperative learning all the time and some use it occasionally. In high school and middle school there are also some courses in which students have the option of following a Cl class or a more traditional one in the model. Giving this option can prove useful because students will be less likely to get involved in the CL environment unless they really enjoy it. Meanwhile, students who benefit from more traditional teaching methods will be able to continue their education in a way that suits them best.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
