Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

*The 1:1 pupil-computer ratio is still an ideal to be achieved

Reality, therefore, dictates that schools face the fact that each classroom, especially in public or government schools, may not be equipped with the appropriate number of computers. The creativity of the teacher will have to respond to the situation, and so cooperative learning will likely be the answer to the implementation of IT supported learning in our schools.  But the situation may not be that bad since there are motivational and social benefits to cooperative learning and these can compensate for the lack of hardware that educators face. Cooperative or collaborative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in a common learning task. The five elements namely, a common goal, interdependence, interaction, individual accountability and social skills, are needed. In addition, there are studies which show that cooperative learning enhance personal and social development among students of all ages, while enhancing self-esteem and improving social relations between racially and culturally different students. When students work with computers in groups, they cluster and interact with each other for advice and mutual help. And given the option to work individually or in a group, the students generally wish to work together in computer-based and non computer-based activities.

Collaborative or cooperative learning is learning in groups to achieve a common goal. However, in order for a group work to be called cooperative, it must have the following: common goal – the group must have a unanimous target so that they can work together towards the achievement of that goal; interdependence – members of the group must depend on each other (but not totally be dependent like leave the task to others) in a manner that the job is shared and everyone has its job; interaction – everyone in the group must interact and participate in the work; individual accountability – each one must take responsibility and do his/her job in the group; and social skills – members of the group must not only be interactive but must also know how to establish and maintain good relationship with other members of the group. From the prerequisites above, it can be said then that not every group work is a cooperative one. A group of people may do the same thing in the same place but may have different targets.

Cooperative learning also has its benefits. This type of learning is active and students in the process are motivated to learn. Since it encourages group work there is big chance that students will learn more since they can learn from their group mates and in the end there is an increase in the academic performance of the students. Above all, the teacher becomes more effective since he/she is also manifesting the other functions of a teacher being a facilitator of learning (since in this approach students learn together from their group mates and the teacher is no longer the sole source of information). Students develop socially and personally.