Cooperative+Learning

=__**Cooperative Learning**__=

**DESCRIPTION**

 * Cooperative learning is a process in which multiple people work together to complete a specific assignment either to be turned in for a grade or presented as a group for a grade.**

**HOW COOPERATIVE LEARNING CAN BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM**

 * - It can be used to divide a work load amoung a group of students that will all contribute to the project.**
 * - Cooperative learning allows interaction between students who otherwise wouldn't interact with each other.**
 * - It also allows students to be indenpendent and responsible for their part of the group assignment.**
 * - Social skills are built on while working in a group with others.**

**CRITIQUE**

 * There are many types of cooperative learning, a few examples are motivational, behavioral, and social independent.**
 * Motivation comes from cooperative learning because it brings a group of diverse students together. The ones that are already driven to learn and succeed will motivate the others to be driven and goal oriented as well.**
 * While some students coming to the group may have behavioral problems others will not and this will give the ones that do an opportunity to learn by example.**
 * It also gives each student the opportunity for indenpendence as each student must complete their part of the assignment on their own.**
 * In my opinion cooperative learning is a great way for students to expand their knowledge in the areas I have listed as well as other areas not touched on here.**
 * PROS**
 * **Access to group members strengths**
 * **Students bring their own learning style and prior knowledge to the table**
 * **Learn to work with others**
 * **Feedback from group members**
 * CONS**
 * **Verbalizing and reasoning is a must**
 * **Each students opinion might not work with all group members**
 * **Has to work through group members weaknesses**
 * **The time to work on a group project might not fit into everyone's scheduels**


 * Examples:**


 * A great example of this would be what our class did at the begining of the semester where we all got a partner and did a interveiw and then reported what we found out to the class.**


 * Another example also used in this class would be the scavenger hunt where we had to work as a team to find the clues and figure them out using the GPS device.**
 * LINKS:**
 * [|Cooperative Learning]**
 * [|Cooperative Learning Video]**