Instructional methods in
cooperative learning
Definitions
•
Cooperative learning involves students working
together to accomplish shared goals, and it is this
sense of interdependence that motivate group
members to help and support each other.
•
Cooperative learning is defined as students working
together to “attain group goals that cannot be
obtained by working alone or
competitively” (Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec, 1986)
EXAMPLE• An example of a very popular cooperative
learning activity that teachers use
is jigsaw, where each student is required
to research one section of the material and
then teach it to the other members of the
group
Think-pair-share: Also known as turn and
talk, think-pair-share is an exercise in
which the individual group members must
collaborate with another student to answer
a teacher’s question. The pair of students
must then present their answers to the
class.
Think-Pair-Share
Collaborate
Work together to produce or achieve
something
On a project
On an assignment
Cooperate
Help someone in doing something
Complete project Types of Cooperative Learning
Formal learning
•
Informal learning
•
Cooperative Base group learning
1. Formal Learning
• Formal cooperative learning groups range
in length from one class period to several
weeks. The teacher can structure any
academic assignment or course requirement
for formal cooperative learning.
• "Formal cooperative learning groups ensure
that students are actively involved in the
intellectual work of organizing material,
explaining it, summarizing it, and integrating it
into existing conceptual structures.
• They are the heart of using cooperative
learning
Informal
• Informal cooperative learning groups are adhoc groups that may last from a few minutes
to a whole class period.
• The teacher uses them during direct teaching
(lectures, demonstrations) to focus student
attention on the material to be learned,
• set a mood conducive to learning, help set
expectations about material, what the lesson
will cover, ensure that students are
cognitively processing the material being
taught, and provide closure to an instructional
session.
Cooperative base groups • Cooperative base groups are "long-term
(lasting for at least a year), heterogeneous
groups with stable membership whose primary
purpose is for members to give each other the
support, help, encouragement, and assistance
each needs to progress academically. Base
groups provide students with long-term,
committed relationships." (Johnson, Johnson, &
Holubec, 1998, p.1:8).