It is important to focus on specific
skills, content knowledge and expertise with innovative support system to help
students to master the multi-dimensional abilities required them in today’s
diverse and complex world. In this regard teachers must adopt a cooperative
teaching strategy that caters for all the individual differences and which
prepares them to be lifelong learners and productive members of the society.
However, teachers seem to be very
reluctant in applying cooperating learning strategies in classrooms, believing
it will create chaos in the class and will lose the control of the teacher over
the students. Though this is possible disadvantage of cooperative learning
strategies teachers are highly recommended to use cooperative learning as the
motive of teaching is not only to enhance the academic performance of the
students. Teaching should be designed in a way the learners are offered to develop
various competencies like critical thinking, establishing positive student-
teacher relationship and peer relationship in the classroom.
To avoid the problems face by
teachers in implementing cooperative learning strategies, teachers must be well
prepared for the lesson. Teachers should not try to use the cooperative
learning before having the confidence of the handling the students in any
situations. Otherwise it may easily lead to a mismanagement of the whole class.
It is crucial to establish ground rules and a positive environment before
trying for cooperative strategy. Once the teacher has the full confidence and
students are willing to follow the ground rules teacher can adapt to
cooperative learning.
Though teacher centered and being
autocratic is easy to control the class and produce the result, cooperative
learning has various advantages. Firstly, it increases the student- students
and student – teacher interactions. Students assist each other in understanding
lesson. This may even help students to broaden their perspectives on issues or
problems. Interaction with peers and teachers also helps to develop their
language competency. This also creates positive relationship with the teacher
as they get more chances to deal with the teacher. Secondly, it provides
opportunities for higher order thinking as opposed to passive listening.
Reinforces listening to others and gives opportunity for immediate feedback and
adjustment of thought. Thirdly, it permits opportunities to connect the content
to real life. Students are often hesitant to speak up and offer opinions,
especially in very large classes. Students can provide real life examples of
the content being discussed, thus increasing the relevancy of the learning.
Moreover, this way of learning promotes critical thinking skills, self-esteem
of the students, social interaction to lead confidence among society and
reduction of fear and unwillingness.
To conclude, implementing of
cooperative learning strategies is not easy. As the first thing, teacher should
build the confidence and students should be ready and willing to accept the
change. In addition, teacher must prepare each lesson well to achieve the
objectives. The result of successfully implementing cooperative learning will
be the raise of motivation level of learners, equal participation and a
favorable environment for slow learners. (PGCE 13 - classroom management and organisation)
