2.3. Cooperative Learning
Cooperative Learning is a teaching method in which students work in small groups to achieve common goals, trying to improve their own learning. This method distinguishes both competitive and individual learning; it is suitable to be applied to any task and any subject.
Workgroups are not new in the school, yet research demonstrates that students can also work together without benefit. In fact, it may happen that they collaborate, but it would be countersigned by lack of interest and satisfaction. In groups of cooperative learning students devote themselves to common activities with much pleasure; they are protagonists of any phase of their work, from planning to evaluation, whereas the teacher has the main duty to facilitates and organize the learning activity.
Researchers demonstrate that Cooperative Learning, when compared to traditional work planning, usually has the following advantages:
- Better results of the students: every student works longer on his/her test with better results, improving inner motivation and developing reasoning skills and critical thought;
- More positive relationships between students: students are aware about the importance of their own contribution to the work they share, and develop reciprocal respect and team spirit;
- Increase of psychological well-being: students develop their feeling of self-efficacy and self-esteem; they face difficulties and stress much better.
The five elements that improve cooperation are:
- Positive independence, thanks to which the students apply themselves to improve the output of any member of the group, since no individual success is possible when not shared;
- Individual and group responsibility; the group members are responsible for achieving their aims and their contribution;
- Productive interaction; the students must have direct relationships to work, promoting and supporting each member's efforts and praising each other for the goals they achieve;
- Developing specific social skills, necessary to interpersonal relationships within the small group: students apply themselves into the various roles required in the task and into creating an atmosphere of collaboration and reciprocal trust. The ability of managing conflicts is particularly important; the general matter is about social skills, which represent the target of specific teaching;
- Group evaluation: the group evaluates their own results and the way they work, setting aims of improvement.
Within this general framework, the several interpretations of the principle of interdependence and the most significant variables in learning (interaction, learning-motivation, duties and role of the teacher) have originated the development of many Cooperative Learning modes.
