Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

           

Singapore has set the global pace for student learning with a 2:1(2 pupils with 1 computer) ratio in its master plan for IT in education. This show that even in other progressive countries, the1:1 pupil-computer ratio is still an ideal to be achieved. Reality therefore dictates that school faces the fact that each classroom, especially in public or government schools, may not be equipped with the appropriate numbers of computer.

            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.

Defining Cooperative Learning

Cooperative or collaborative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in common learning task. It is often also called grouped learning but to be truly cooperative learning 5 elements are needed:

1.    A common goal

2.    Interdependence

3.    Interaction

4.    Individual accountability

5.    Social skills

Therefore not every group work is cooperative learning since students working on their work sheets physically sat around a table may be working together without these features of cooperative learning.

In a classroom settings, teachers can just discuss what will be the expected output of the students and how to create such output by giving instructions and it will be up to the students on how they will come up with such output by using their own creativity and by just relying on their own skills and ability in accomplishing something that needs to be done. One example of this is making a presentation under Google slides where you can share it with your group mates or classmates for clarifications and corrections provided that your group mates or classmates were also accessing the internet.

It is hard to deny the fact that using technology has its advantages and disadvantages and it is up to the people using these on how they will utilize the technology in a good way on how it can benefit the user or even the people around him/her. Using technology in instruction is very beneficial to us because we can always communicate with each other online. We are able to discuss things without seeing each other personally.

As a student it is very important to have a good communication with the group about the progress of task or activity even if students within a group is in different places. They can still cooperate and do some things online.