Lesson 13

Cooperative Learning with the Computer

Cooperative or collaborative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in a common learning task. It is often also called group learning but be truly cooperative learning, five (5) elements are needed:

1. a common goal
2. interdependence
3. interaction
4. individual accountability
5. social skills

Therefore not every group work is cooperative learning since students working on their work sheets physically sat around a table may be working together without these features of cooperative learning.

From several studies made on cooperative learning, it is manifested that cooperative learning in its true sense is advantageous since it:

1. encourages active learning, while motivating students;
2. increase academic performance;
3. promotes literacy and language skills; and
4. improves teacher effectiveness.

In addition, there are studies which show that cooperative learning enhances personal and social development among students of all ages, while enhancing self-esteem and improving social relation between racially and culturally different students.

Cooperative learning and the computer

Researchers agree that the computer is fairly natural learning vehicle for cooperative (at times called promotive) learning.

Researchers have been made studies in the learning interaction between the student and the computer. The studies have great value since it has been a long standing fear that the computer may foster student learning in isolation that hinders the development of the student’s social skills.

Components of Cooperative learning

Educators are still wary about of the computer’s role in cooperative learning. Thus they pose the position that the use of computers do not automatically result in cooperative learning. In that case, therefore, assign the teacher several task in order to ensure collaborative learning. These are:

• assigning students to mixed-ability teams;
• establishing positive interdependence;
• teaching cooperative social skills;
• insuring individual accountability, and
• helping group process information

These are in addition to assigning a common work goal in which each member of the group will realize that their group will not succeed unless everyone contributes to the groups success. It is also important for the teacher to limit learning group clusters (Six is the ideal number in a group) so that there can be closer involvement in thinking and learning.