Introduction
Reality dictates that school face
the fact that each classroom,
especially in public or
government schools, may not be
equipped with appropriate
number of computers.
The creativity of the teacher will
have to respond to the situation,
and so cooperative learning will
likely be the answer to the
implementation of IT
Cooperative or Collaborative Learning
Is learning by small groups of
students who work together in
a common learning task.
It is also called Group Learning.
5 Elements are needed
to be truly cooperative
learning:
A common goal
Interdependence
Interaction
Individual accountability
Social skills
Advantages of Cooperative Learning
Encourages active learning,
while motivating students.
Increases
academic
performance.
Promotes
literacy and
language skills.
Improves teachers effectiveness.
In addition, there are studies which
show that cooperative learning
enhances:
1. Personal and social
development among
students.
2. Self- esteem
3. Social relations between racially
and culturally different students.
Based on a study conducted,
researchers agree that the computer is
a natural learning vehicle for
cooperative (at times called promotive)
learning.
Thus, it shows that when students work
with computers in groups, they cluster
and interact with each other for advice
and mutual help.
Moreover, given the option to work
individually or in a group, the students
generally wish to work together in
computer-based and non-computer-based
activities.
Reflecting on this, psychologists think the
computer fosters this positive social
behaviour because it has a display
monitor
– where they look something in common.
Educators are still wary about
the computer’s role in
cooperative learning. Thus
they pose the position that the
use of computers do not
automatically result in
cooperative learning.
There therefore assign the teacher
several tasks 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 groups 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
limits learning group clusters (six is the
ideal number in a group) so there can
be closer involvement in thinking and
learning.