Cooperation is working together to accomplish shared goals and cooperative learning is the instructional use of small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and one another's learning.
(Johnson and Johnson, 1990: 69).
I get my pupils to work in groups every lesson, although at times it is not possible because I teach at a small school with one class only consisting of two pupils, but I in the bigger classes pupils work in groups up to 3 times in a lesson.
When working in groups they cooperate well although sometimes the less able students are left out. I have to pick groups carefully because some groups tend not to work together. It depends on the group if they 'maximize their own and one another's learning, mostly they do, but it only benefits them if all are actively involved.
The philosophy of group work can easily be misunderstood. When organised well, however, cooperative approaches to learning, by requiring pupils to explain their ideas to others or to argue a point of view, can help them to fully develop their understanding of many topics.
Group work can also help pupils to learn to communicate well and work effectively in teams. Both qualities are highly valued by employers.
In my opinion, after watching a program of teachers trying various techniques of group work, these were the benefits:
- Students formulated new ideas
- Students expressed opinions
- students negotiated
- it focused their talking and kept them on task
- Students felt at ease when exploring the unknown
- Students showed true potential
- Less emphasis on teacher
- more realistic to career work
No comments:
Post a Comment