COOPERATIVE LEARNING: 

WHEN EDUCATION IS A TEAM GAME

Hi, everyone, welcome back to my blog. This week I am going to share with you some interesting information related to COOPERATIVE LEARNING.

Many research experiences show how competencies and life skills can be improved by working in study groups through forms of cooperative learning. To overcome obstacles, relying on team play may be the right move. A rule that is certainly also valid at school. 

Studies show that results are improved significantly in the study and workgroups in which forms of cooperative learning are used.  Cooperative learning, with its flexibility characteristics, is well suited to respond to specific needs and local contexts. Thanks to a pact on mutual trust, people learn from each other, developing opportunities for growth and new educational tools. Everyone is responsible not only for their own learning but also for that of the other members of the group. 

Characteristics of the cooperative learning group

It is not enough to bring together several people to create a group of cooperative learning.

·    There are precise organizational practices to be followed so that we can speak of cooperative learning and among these we can highlight:

·        the composition of the group based on the criterion of the heterogeneity of personal characteristics and skills possessed

·         the active involvement of all participants

·         a real positive interdependence between group members

·         the commitment of the children to ensure mutual help

·         the sense of responsibility expressed with a view to a common goal

·     leadership distributed on the components who therefore assume different management roles based on situations and objectives

In cooperative learning, the student has the opportunity to experiment in a learning space in which, thanks to mutual collaboration, it is easier to develop strategic and transversal skills, links between contents and insights. 

Advantages of COOPERATIVE LEARNING

The positive impact of cooperative learning on learning outcomes is therefore reflected at different levels:

           motivation to learn

the development of self-esteem

the achievement of operational skills

the enhancement of communication skills and working together

the development of empathic capacity, self-control and self-regulation

The advantages affect both the individual components and the group as a whole: 

• Each member contributes to the learning dynamics of the group to achieve common results. By doing so, they raise awareness of their positive role in the community
• The skills, abilities and knowledge possessed at an individual level are expressed for the benefit of the group, which therefore always acquires new ones
• Comparison with others helps develop critical, creative and divergent thinking and facilitates the production of innovative ideas
•  Exchange and dialogue activate positive interdependencies, a spontaneous passage of behaviours and practices based on emulation between group members aimed at developing their own well-being and that of others and overcoming conflicts

• Cooperation between group members leads individuals to greater responsibility and to proactively and dynamically transform the classic student-tutor-teacher relationship
• The bidirectional, group and individual assessment for each component constantly exercised on the results achieved, and the systematic use of feedback on the progress of the relationship activates improvement strategies and corrective educational actions

Cooperative Learning in distance learning 

It is no coincidence that in this last school year of educational challenges and closed schools,  the cooperative model has been a tool used by many teachers to overcome the difficulties of distance learning and maintain a good relationship between pupils. An entire network of relationships between parents, teachers, tutors, school directors, institutions, associations and volunteers came into play. Everyone has worked hard to make an educational experiment born out of an emergency work.

Personally speaking, I didn't like group work at all, even now I have my own doubts. I have always liked to work alone, to be in charge of all the work that has to be done. However, I must admit that when I have worked in groups everything has gone well and I have had so much fun. 

Considering all of these, in societies like ours that are affected by rapid technological, social and cultural evolution, cooperative learning can be a strategic ally of the School. To go deeper,  when pupils work in groups life seems much better.

Thank you for your time, happy holidays!😊Ⓜ