What is it
Cooperative learning (also sometimes referred to as small group learning) is an approach to teaching that involves students working together on activities and tasks. These groups need to be small enough to ensure that everyone is able to participate; normally 3-5 students. Typically, everyone is given a small task in the overall objective that they are aspiring to learn or, they can work together on a shared task. There are many different types of cooperative learning however they all have around the same base implementation, disadvantages and, advantages. Some of the specific types of cooperative learning are Jigsaw Groups, Think-Pair-Share, Round Robin, Numbered Heads, Group Investigation and, Peer Tutoring.
How Effective is it
There are many advantages that are associated with the use of cooperative learning, some of these include:
- Improving social skills
- Increased motivation
- Improve self management
- Improve leadership skills [1].
Since this teaching style involves group work and cooperation it is great at improving students social skills along with the academic material.
Disadvantages
With all learning approaches there are positives and negatives that are associated with it. The main disadvantage / problem with this teaching approach is that
- Its difficult to assess individual students
- On average it will take more time
- And group formation (depending on the age range) [3].
The main issue that accompanies group formation is the mix of abilities can cause students to be held back depending on the ability level. Also the creation of groups can cause tension between students if they don’t end up with who they want.
Tips for Implementation
With many learning styles there are many ways to improve the experience for the students and teachers. Some tips for cooperative learning are:
- Set ground rules to keep on track
- Establish roles for each student
- Establish goals for each group
- Include some kind of individual assessment (make sure everyone is learning)
- Make sure the activity is designed so that it is effective and efficient to work together [2].
Alignment With Our Topic
Cooperative learning does not align well with my group’s topic for our interactive learning design (Using ChatGPT for research). This requires individual exploration and practice similar to learning other technologies. Also since it is an emerging technology there will be limited expertise in the people taking this course, causing people to lack the prior knowledge to guide their peers effectively. Also since this will be an online course, this makes it more difficult to use cooperative learning since this will limit people in what pace they can complete the course because of the lack of: immediate feedback, task management and accountability that accompanies online courses.
Links for Specific Types of Cooperative learning:
- Jigsaw Groups: https://www.jigsaw.org/
- Think-Pair-Share: https://www.kent.edu/ctl/think-pair-share
- Round Robin: https://kb.wisc.edu/instructional-resources/page.php?id=104153
- Numbered Heads: https://www.lcps.org/cms/lib/VA01000195/Centricity/Domain/5581/Numbered%20Heads%20Together%20Cooperative%20Learning%20Strategy.pdf
- Group Investigation: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1121900.pdf
- Peer Tutoring: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED538819.pdf
Resources:
[1] J. Birt, “Cooperative Learning Strategies: Definition, Benefits and Tips,” Indeed.com, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/cooperative-learning-strategies [Accessed: Jun. 10, 2023]
[2] “Collaborative Learning | Center for Teaching Innovation,” Cornell.edu, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://teaching.cornell.edu/teaching-resources/active-collaborative-learning/collaborative-learning [Accessed: Jun. 10, 2023]
[3] “7.7: Benefits and Drawbacks of Cooperative Learning,” Social Sci LibreTexts, Feb. 28, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Early_Childhood_Education/Instructional_Methods_Strategies_and_Technologies_(Lombardi_2018)/07%3A_Cooperative_Learning/7.07%3A_Benefits_and_Drawbacks_of_Cooperative_Learning [Accessed: Jun. 10, 2023]
Hey Chloe, thanks for sharing such an informative post! I couldn’t agree more that group-based projects can be an excellent way to foster teamwork skills, which are crucial once we transition into the professional world. The collaborative nature of group work often leads to the generation of more creative ideas through discussions and brainstorming sessions. That being said, it’s also a reality that the teamwork experience can be less enjoyable if individual contributions are not distributed fairly. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on which types of courses you believe are better suited for group-based rather than individual-based projects? Also, which of the 6 specific coop learning do you personally like best?
Hi Chloe, Your description of Cooperative Learning is very detailed and clear. The explanations and examples you provided allow the audience to have a clear understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of Cooperative Learning. Although it may not directly align with your topic, I believe it is a very effective instructional approach.
Hi Chloe! I enjoyed reading your recent post on Cooperative Learning. It was incredibly informative and provided an excellent overview of this approach and its various types. Learning about how it promotes collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills was really helpful, and I appreciated how you highlighted the unique benefits of each type. Your post was also really balanced in discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the approach, and your tips for successful implementation were spot-on. Great job!