Corporative learning strategies

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)