Cooperative Learning

IntroductionLearning is most effective when students actively involved in sharing ideas and work cooperatively. Science teaching should include group activities, discussion with peers and teachers.

Cooperative Learning (CL) CL refers that Learning together to accomplish certain goals.In addition to usual learning goals, it includes goal of establishing a collaborative relationship among the participants.Most widely used definition for CL given by Jhonson and Johnson (1993)It is a Tg strategy in which small teams with variety of ability students involved in different learning activities to understand the subjects. Each one help teammates.

Essential Elements For CLPositive Interdependence: Team members rely on one anotherIndividual Accountability: All students in a group has accountability for doing or sharing of work and mastery over the over.Face to Face promotive interaction: Some are individual work, some are group work: each one providing feedback and encouraging one another.Appropriate use of collaborative skills: Encouragement, develop trust building, leadership, decision making, communication, and conflict management skills.Group Processing: Team members set group goals, periodically asses what they are doing, make change to work effectively.

Theory of CLCognitive developmentBehavioral Social interdependence

CL TechniquesJigsaw :Students are divided into groups, each members in a group assigned a topic. Students experts in that topic (expert group) and presents the same.

Student Team Achievement Division (STAD)Mixed grouped are formed (4 or 5 Members).Teacher presents a lesson or material. students work in their team to get master over the given lesson.All students take individual quizzes on the lesson, and the scores are compared with own past averages. Points are also given, all points are summed up to form team scores, Team meet certain criteria and may earn certificates or other rewards.

Team Games Tournament (TGT) Heterogeneous groups splits up temporarily, and homogenous groups are formed for competition. Students randomly select card corresponding to the questions. Students answer for the questions and keeps the card, for each correct answer scores/points will be given. Team average is taken.

Think-pair ShareThree step cooperative structure: Step 1: Individual think silently about a question posed by teacher. Step 2: Individual pair up for exchange and shares their views ideas.Step 3: The pair share their ideas, views with other pairs, other teams or the entire groups.

Three Step InterviewEach member of a team chooses another member to be partner. First, individual interview with partner by clarifying the questions. Secondly, the partner reverse the roles. Third, members share the partners responses with team.

Team Assisted Individualization (TAI)Students divided into group, each student work individually his own pace.

Group InvestigationGroup formed, topic will be given, eachgroup member assigned to doInvestigation, group discussion, projects.

Round Robin BrainstormingClass divided into small group with one person appointed as recorder. Questions are posed with many answer and students are given time to think about answer. After think time, students share responses with one another. The recorder writes down the answer of the group member.

Numbered HeadsA team of four is established. Each member is numbered 1,2,3,4. Questions are asked to them. Teacher can call the number..Group work together to answer the question.

Benefits of CLImprove academic acivementActive involvement Increase motivation to learnIncrease student responsibility for learningIncrease interethnic relationsImprove colloborative skillsEnhance interpersonal relationsIncrease self esteemDevelop positive attitude towards groupAbility to appreciateGrater opportunity for students teachers to knkow students learning ability

Teachers Role Plan a lessonObjectivesSize of the groupsHow to group pupilsGroup rolesOrganisation of the classroomMaterials requiredExplains the task and cooperative skills with criteriaMonitor and intervene with groupEvaluate the quality and quantity of achievement .

Conti..

Teacher need to create students centered learning environment for interaction, construction and reflective practicesTeacher need to teach actively about how to interact socially in groups.Teacher facilitate the students by helping..Need to prepare to challenges students thinking and scaffold their learningNeed to monitor students progress, provide feedback, directions and redirections.

Collaborative LearningIt is a method of teaching and learning in which students team together to explore a significant question or create a meaningful project.group of students discussing a lecture.students from different schools working together over the Internet on a shared assignment.

Collaborative learning requires working together toward a common goal.students teaching one another, students teaching the teacher, and of course the teacher teaching the students, too. students to take almost full responsibility for working together, building knowledge together, changing and evolving together and of course, improving together

Benefits

fact that students are actively exchanging, debating and negotiating ideas within their groups increases students interest in learning.by engaging in discussion and taking responsibility for their learning, students are encouraged to become critical thinkers. students working in small groups tend to learn more of what is being taught. they retain the information longer and also appear more satisfied with their classes.

Cont..."group goals" and "individual accountability.collaborative learning task would allow for each member to be responsible for some concept necessary to complete the task.can perform at higher intellectual levels in Constructing Knowledge Togethercollaborative situations than when working individually.group diversity can contribute positively to the learning process.

ApproachesCollaborative learningCo-operative learningProblem-based learningWriting groupsPeer teachingLearning communitiesDiscussion groups

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