Question: This year, my daughter's fifth-grade teacher has implemented cooperative learning in the classroom. I really don't understand this learning method and would like to know if it has any possible benefits. - Curious
Answer: In recent years, cooperative learning has become quite popular in schools. It involves dividing a class into small groups of students who work on assignments together. Some teachers use cooperative learning 60 to 70 percent of the instructional time. They might even have the students sit permanently in small groups. In other classrooms, students might only work cooperatively on certain days, during certain times or only on certain projects.
Some of the basic elements of cooperative learning are:
- Students are put in groups of two to four members.
- The same grade is given to every member of the group.
- Every member of a group is held accountable for doing his or her share of the work.
- Group members are required to rely on each other to achieve their goals.
The benefits of cooperative learning are said to include:
- Increasing children's social skills and self-esteem.
- Letting students of varied abilities work together.
- Giving slower students the advantage of more advanced students' knowledge.
- Allowing advanced students to increase their understanding by explaining things to other group members.
- Encouraging learning through experimentation.
- Remembering material better because it is discussed with others.
- Increasing enthusiasm for learning.
- Getting help and assistance from someone other than the teacher.
While cooperative learning has decided benefits, there are also drawbacks. It can devalue individual achievement. If teachers do not supervise groups carefully, the students might spend too much time playing or quarreling. Often, one or two students might end up doing most of the work. Many of the important skills that children learn in school require a lot of individual practice and are inappropriate for cooperative learning.