Cooperative+Learning

==== **Cooperative Learning** is when students work in small groups to achieve a common goal or joint success. Cooperative Learning can take place over a short term, in which students work on one specific project or task. They may do this for one class period depending on the complexity of the task at hand. Cooperative Learning can also take place over a longer amount of time, like an entire year or semester. For long term Cooperative Learning, students are put into **base groups**. These groups can work together and help each other with classroom notes, assignments and may just offer general support. ====

====There are many benefits to Cooperative Learning, when it is properly organized and monitored. Students may gain a better understanding of the subject matter at hand. Cooperative Learning also promotes the amount of communication that occurs between classmates and it improves the quality of that communication. Students also learn to provide support for their classmates and unknowingly help scaffold each other. Cooperative Learning requires students to share their own ideas and they are exposed to different strategies of their classmates. By respectfully communicating with their classmates, students learn to be more accepting of their diverse classmates: “[S]tudents are more likely to believe that their classmates like them, and friendships across racial and ethnic groups and between students with and without disabilities are apt to form” (Ormrod, 2011, p. 443). Cooperative Learning increases higher level cognition because students must learn how to explain their thinking to their group members, they need to model their strategies to their group and they have to use more problem solving techniques. ====

==== Though Cooperative Learning has many benefits, it does have several downfalls that may prevent students from learning and sometimes, students may learn things that are completely incorrect. Students often bring misconceptions into the classroom, and when participating in Cooperative Learning students may agree as a group on an incorrect strategy, or they come to an incorrect conclusion. In Cooperative Learning environments, conversation serves as a way of learning, but some students have difficulties staying on task and they may even prevent other student from accomplishing their task. In a society that values individualism as much as the United States, Cooperative Learning may be harder for some students to understand because they may not see the value in helping their classmates, especially if they believe they can accomplish the task by themselves. Laura E. Berk points out how culture can have an effect on how successful Cooperative Learning is: “Working productively in groups comes more naturally to children reared in collectivist rather than individualistic cultures” (Berk, 2001, p. 201). A final pitfall of Cooperative Learning is that some students may simply lack the skills needed to help others learn. ====

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====Cooperative Learning is a student centered approach that teachers need to carefully monitor and control in order for students to benefit. Students are very aware of the behaviors of others so “Teachers must model effective dialogue, help children verbalize their thinking, and encourage them to comprehend, respect, and build on their classmate’ ideas and opinions” (Berk, 2001, p. 201). Some students may not work as well with other particular students. Teachers should carefully pick groups that they believe will work well together. Groups should be diverse and should include high achievers, low achievers, girls, boys and students of different ethnicities. Educators may need to experiment with groups to see what will benefit their students the most. Teachers need to make sure the goals of the activity are clear and must provide students with clear behavior guidelines. Teachers should monitor group progress to ensure students are staying on task and to make sure they are moving in the correct direction.====

====Several Cooperative learning categories include discussion , reciprocal teaching, graphic organizers , writing and problem solving (Science Education Resource Center, 2012).====

====Cooperative Learning can have increased benefits when younger children are partnered with older, more expert students: “collaboration with more capable peers is an excellent means for leading children forward” (Berk, 2001, 200). Mixed-age Cooperative Learning group foster an even better understanding of material and helps children see learning as more of a community effort. Cooperative Learning prepares students more for the real world because in many job settings they will need to work with a diverse group of people to accomplish a common goal.====



–Lindsey Goodine, page created February 2, 2013

Webliography
Ormrod, Jeanne E. //Educational Psychology//. (2011). Print. P. 443-446.

Berk, Laura E. //Awakening Children's Minds//, (2001). Print. P. 200-203.