Using Cooperative Learning

After doing my project on Maria Montessori, as well as the group project on the Constructivist theory, I have become really interested in using group work in my classroom. Anita Woolfolk's podcast on cooperative learning gives more benefits to this set up, as well as some ideas.

Cooperative learning truly occurs when students need to depend on each other to complete a task, and build on each other's knowledge. It must be a team effort, where everyone chips in. The teacher needs to make sure they chose a model that fits the goal of the lesson, and provide direction and support when needed. They also need to make sure they monitor students while they are working on the project to make sure they are on the right track and learning the material correctly.

The benefits to cooperative learning are plentiful if it is accomplished correctly. Students are motivated to complete their work because they know their partners are counting on them. They are required to explain their thinking to their group members. Some theorists believe this is the most successful way to learn, as you are thinking about the information internally and deciding how to best present it to your peers. Students engage in productive dialogue; this is talk where students need to interpret and explain information, not just name and describe something Another benefit is that disequilibrium may occur in some students, making them wonder if the way they have been thinking is really correct. They will then strive to learn the right information to adjust their knowledge. Students not only become responsible for their own learning, but as well as teaching. They are required to find examples of a topic, or figure out how to present the information another way. This again gets them thinking critically.

Woolfolk provided examples of ways to find experts in your classroom to help create cooperative groups. Her daughter is an elementary school teacher and on the first day of school devises interview questions for her students that will relate to topics they will discuss that year. Students will ask each other questions like "Can you speak another language?" or "Do you know how to cook?" and find a student who fits each category. Each student would be made an expert in one area, so when that topic is discussed students have a peer to turn to for extra help.

I have said before that I think group work and cooperative learning is extremely important, especially in elementary school. Students need to have these social interactions and foster an ability to work as a team. These are skills that will not only increase their learning, but help them later in life beyond the classroom.