Cooperative Learning

cooperative learning Leon Kruset 1. Cooperative learning a. A description of cooperative learning. i. The idea of students working together in small groups, and by working together each student is able to bring each his or her own originality to the task; while also working with the teacher to keep the students on track. b. A brief history of CL. ii. “Prior to World War II, social theorists such as Allport, Watson, Shaw, and Mead began establishing cooperative learning theory after finding that group work was more effective and efficient in quantity, quality, and overall productivity when compared to working alone.[2] However, it wasn’t until 1937 when researchers May and Doob[3] found that people who cooperate and work together to achieve shared goals, were more successful in attaining outcomes, than those who strived independently to complete the same goals. Furthermore, they found that independent achievers had a greater likelihood of displaying competitive behaviours. Philosophers and psychologists in the 1930s and 40’s such as John Dewey, Kurt Lewin, and Morton Deutsh also influenced the cooperative learning theory practiced today.[4] Dewey believed it was important that students develop knowledge and social skills that could be used outside of the classroom, and in the democratic society. This theory portrayed students as active recipients of knowledge by discussing information and answers in groups, engaging in the learning process together rather than being passive receivers of information (e.g. teacher talking, students listening).” (wiki) c. Examples of CL activities iii. Jigsaw - Groups with five students are set up. Each group member is assigned some unique material to learn and then to teach to his group members. To help in the learning students across the class working on the same sub-section get together to decide what is important and how to teach it. After practice in these "expert" groups the

References: 1. Kagan, Spencer. Cooperative Learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing, 1994. www.KaganOnline.com 2. Gilles, R.M., & Adrian, F. (2003). Cooperative Learning: The social and intellectual Outcomes of Learning in Groups. London: Farmer Press. 3. May, M. and Doob, L. (1937). Cooperation and Competition. New York: Social Sciences Research Council. 4. Sharan, Y. (2010). Cooperative Learning for Academic and Social Gains: valued pedagogy, problematic practice. European Journal of Education, 45,(2), 300-313. 5. Cooperative Learning. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved september 9, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cooperativelearning. 6. Rebecca Teed, John McDaris, and Cary Roseth, Cooperative Learning, starting point. September 9, 2012, from http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/cooperative/index.html. Author, A. (Date Published). Article name. Name of website. [Retrieved] Date, [from] URL of Website 7.