Writing 10

Cooperative Learning.

“Cooperative learning is the use of small groups  through which students work together to
accomplish shared goals and to maximise their own and others’ potential.”  Johnson, Johnson and Holubec (ASCD 1994)
Using co-operative teaching and learning structures (Kagan, 1992) in the classroom can have many benefits for both teachers and pupils. Teachers can:
• organise classes into small groups with a common goal;
ensure that pupils within a group work collaboratively until they understand
and have completed the task;
• ensure that pupils engage in peer teaching, learning and assessment;
• celebrate collaborative efforts with pupils.
Group work can also encourage and help pupils to:
• use and manipulate knowledge in practical situations;
• develop language and social skills needed for cooperation;
• use exploratory language to try out ideas;
• stretch their language as they talk critically and constructively;
• support and build on each other’s contributions;
• take turns in discussion;
• develop other important life skills including:
 organisation;
 negotiation;
 delegation;
 team work;
 co-operation;
 leadership
• Develop and increase their thinking skills by explaining and negotiating their contributions to a group. In other words, they are able to use this “low risk” situation to begin to establish what they know and to find out what they have yet to learn;
• Acknowledge and utilise the strengths and talents of individual pupils;
• Explore a topic in a limited time frame;
• Develop a sense of responsibility through group accountability and assessment