Cooperative Learning

Cooperative learning is an essential tool in the classroom.  It is a strategy that sets our students up to be successful in the real world.  Most careers that students go in to will require them to work within a group.  Teaching our students how to do this now will help to teach them how to problem solve, how to handle conflict, and how to effectively collaborate with one another.  Cooperative learning is also a style of learning that students enjoy being a part of.  When you use this strategy in the classroom teachers will often experience an increase in motivation from their students, and a greater buy-in to what the are learning (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn, 2012).  There are many ways a teacher can incorporate cooperative learning into a classroom.  They can use the jigsaw strategy, assign a group project, or they can take part in computer based simulation activities.  

The jigsaw strategy work will when the content being covered is broken up into different categories.  In this strategy the students split up into equal groups.  Within those groups each student decides on a section to become an expert on.  Once all groups of delegated each section to members of their group the students from the various groups that have the same section will get together and research and prepare the content that they will be sharing with the initial group (Laureate Education, n.d.).  Each group needs to depend on their members to teach the content that is important.  I use this strategy frequently during social studies.  If you wanted to incorporate technology students can create a PowerPoint style presentation and share it with each other and they can bring that back to each of their groups to share.  

Group projects is another great cooperative learning strategy. Like a jigsaw, members within a group are usually responsible for different roles. Working in groups promote positive interdependence and individual and group accountability (Pitler et. al, 2012).  Within these projects students are assigned various roles and are responsible for completing their portion of the project.  If students are working on a multimedia project responsibilities could be split up into researcher, writer, tech expert, and coordinator (Pitler et. al, 2012).  Each student needs to depend on each other in order to achieve success.  

Computer based simulations is a style of cooperative learning that takes place outside of the classroom rather than inside. Peter Tromba (2013) said, “Video games and simulations are one way to meet student needs and leverage their interests for increased student learning.” (p. 20).  Minecraft is the simulation game that students are participating in.   While playing this games students can connect and all be a part of the same world (Tromba, 2013).  The students will need to work together with each other to create something that they can thrive in.

As you can see, cooperative learning is a great strategy to encourage student engagement and increase learning.  Students will walk away from their classrooms excited about what they are learning.  They will also be gaining skills that will equip them to be successful in life outside of school.

References:

Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). Social learning theories [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., & Kuhn, M. (2012). Using technology with classroom instruction that works (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Tromba, P. (2013). Build Engagement and Knowledge One Block at a Time with Minecraft. Learning & Leading With Technology, 40(8), 20-23.