Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Cooperative Learning


Do you know what is 'Cooperative Learning'?

In my point of view based on what I have studied, 'Cooperative Learning' is an instructional strategy where small teams of students, usually two to six members, work together to maximize their individual and collective learning. Once after team members are organized into these small groups and receive instruction from their teacher, students within the team will cooperate with one another and work through the assignment until each team members successfully understands and completes it. Ultimately the shared goals are accomplished individually by each team member, and collectively by the group as a whole.

There are FIVE elements of 'Cooperative Learning' that I have studied.

1. Positive Interdependence
Where tasks and goals are clearly defined, commitments are made to both personal and group success.
2. Individual and Group Accountability
Where each team member must contribute to the group as a whole and each team member is accountable for helping the group reach its goals
3. Interpersonal and Small-Group Skills
Where each team member must be motivated, provide effective leadership, be able to make decisions, be able to trust, communicate and to manage conflicts when arise.
4Face to Face Pro-motive Interaction
Where students must promote one another's success by sharing resources, explain how to solve problems, teach each other, discuss concepts being learned and etc...
5. Group Processing which also know as 'Reflection'
In this students must communicate openly, freely and respectfully discussing their concerns, must maintain effective working relationships and process status of goal achievement and accomplishment.

Do you know there are FOUR types of 'Cooperative Learning'? Do you wanna know what are they?

Based on what I have learned in my class, the four types of cooperative learning are known as:
1. Student Teams Achievement Division (STAD)
2. Teams Games Tournament (TGT)
3. Teams Assisted Individualization (TAI)
4. Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC)


'STAD' is a cooperative learning strategy in which small groups of learners with different levels of ability works together to accomplish a shared learning goal.

'TGT' is normally based on quizzes where teacher will present content in lecture and teams will work through problems/questions.


'TAI' this is where a student will work on their skill sheet and ask their partner to check their answers and provide assistance.

'CIRC' is a school based program which targets reading, writing and language. It has three principals which are direct instruction learning, story-related activities and integrated language interaction. Each student will be paired with another student and then assigned to a group of students at the same or different reading level. All activity follow a circle that teacher presentation, team practice and testing. Students are encouraged to help one another.

All these are what I have learned about 'Cooperative Learning' in my class. I am sorry if I have left out any or miss matched anything. Please do feel free to drop your comments and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading my blog again.

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