Sarah AlhoshanMohamad BukharyElizabeth KlancherLindsey Sykora

Cooperative learning is the instructional use of small groups through which students work together to maximize their own and each others learning. In classrooms where collaboration is practiced, students pursue learning in groups of varying size: negotiating, initiating, planning and evaluating together. Rather than working as individuals in competition with every other individual in the classroom, students are given the responsibility of creating a learning community where all students Participate in significant and meaningful ways. Cooperative learning requires that students work together to achieve goals which they could not achieve individually.

What is Cooperative Learning?

Cognitive Development

Higher comprehension and retention levels

Fosters critical thinking

Social-Emotional development

Enhances Interpersonal SkillsIncreases academic satisfaction Builds Personal Responsibility

(Tsay and Brady, 2010)

Advantages of Cooperative Learning

Effective groups must be small in size The logistics of facilitating face to face

group collaboration can be difficult Time management issues often arise

◦ Online Software can be used to facilitate logistical conflicts of group communication and time management concerns

(Huang, et. al., 2012)

Limitations

Technology◦ Media

Podcast, video, PowerPoint presentations

◦ Group presentations

Problem-solving skills

Teamwork

Integration in the Classroom

Integration in the Classroom, cont.

Cooperative integrated teaching methods are beneficial for all types of learners, including students with learning disabilities or mental disorders.-Technology can help facilitate cooperative differentiated instruction based upon each individual students ability and speed through software built to meet the needs of each student.

Class project: Language Arts/ Social StudiesPen Pal ProjectClass broken down into groups of 3-4.Each group will be assigned a country to find a pen pal in. They will need to make accounts on www.studentsoftheworld.infoStudents will brain storm about what to include in their pen pal letter.Teacher assigns pen pals for each student using a pen pal website. Students are given pen pals based on their level of literacy comprehension Students will get in groups to edit their letters in a collective collaborative process wherein students of all abilities could guide one another through the editing process.

Examples:

Pen pal website

ResourcesBauwens, J., Hourcade, J. J., & Friend, M. (1989). Cooperative Teaching: A

Model For General And Special Education Integration. Remedial and Special Education, 10(2), 17-22.  Holubec, E., Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T., (1994). Chapter 7. Integrated Use of Cooperative Learning in the Classroom. The new circles of learning cooperation in the classroom and school. Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.  Huang, M., Hsiao, W., Chang, T., Hu, M.(2012) Design and Implementation

of a Cooperative Learning System for Digital Content Design Curriculum: Investigation on Learning Effectiveness and Social Presence. The Turkish Online Journal of Education Technology. 11 Johnson, D., & Johnson, R. Introduction to Cooperative Learning. http://www.cooperation.org/home/introduction-to-cooperative-learning/ Prince George's County Public Schools. A Guide to Cooperative Learning. http://www.pgcps.pg.k12.md.us/~elc/learning1 Tsay M, and Brady M. (2010) A Case Study of Cooperative Learning and Communication Pedagogy: Does Working in Teams Make a Difference? Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. 10