Cooperative learning

Cooperative learning is a generic term that encompasses different procedures that are based on dividing students into small work groups for shared tasks. The teacher designs activities to create a highly structured and organised learning environment that requires everyone's active participation. Students collaborate to solve shared academic tasks and learn together. Cooperative learning activities generally have the following features: 1) tasks are set that work better as group work than as individual work, 2) groups are of 2 - 5 students, 3) a collaborative atmosphere is generated, 4) positive interdependence is fostered with activities that are organised so that group members need each other to carry out the shared tasks and 5) students take responsibility for their tasks and their learning. Cooperative learning strategies include think-pair-share, the collaboration pyramid and the jigsaw method.

SPACE REQUIREMENTS:

Large, flexible and versatile classroom, with mobile modular tables or shovel chairs, in which groups of students can work simultaneously, computers can be connected and the teacher can reach all the groups easily, and good sound design to prevent excessive noise.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS PER GROUP:

20 - 30 students divided into small groups.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Tasks for students must be very well planned and the activity's aims and the group members' tasks must be clear.

DURATION:

1 - 2 h.

TECHNOLOGICAL FACILITATORS:

Collaborative work tools.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• Building Empathy, Compassion, and Achievement in the Jigsaw Classroom.
  Aronson, E. (2002), Improving AcademicAchievement 209–225. ISBN 9780120644551.
• Cooperative Learning: Review of Research and Practice.
  Gillies, RM, Australian Journal of Teacher Education. 2016, 41(3).
• Jigsaw classroom.
  (2021).
• Unravelling cooperative learning in higher education: A review of research.
  Loh, R.C.Y., & Ang, C. S. (2020), Research in Social Sciences and Technology, 5(2), 22-39
• Effects of Small-Group Learning on Undergraduates in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology: A Meta-Analysis.
  Springer L, Stanne ME, Donovan SS, Review of Educational Research.