Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

Jean C. Cotamora BSED General Science 4

Author

Students sharing computer

CONTENT

Truly, the 1:1 ratio of computer and students is still an ideal to be achieved because even progressive countries are still in the running in achieving that. But this should not be taken so negatively since it has benefits. This situation offers the way for cooperative or collaborative learning to come in. Since students have to share computers, they also in one way or another get to learn together with other students and share their ideas.  

Here's a video about Cooperative Learning with the Computer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIOn16A4nKI 

Cooperative Learning

Collaborative or cooperative learning is learning in groups to achieve a common goal. However, in order for a group work to be called cooperative, it must have the following: common goal – the group must have a unanimous target so that they can work together towards the achievement of that goal; interdependence – members of the group must depend on each other (but not totally be dependent like leave the task to others) in a manner that the job is shared and everyone has its job; interaction – everyone in the group must interact and participate in the work; individual accountability – each one must take responsibility and do his/her job in the group; and social skills – members of the group must not only be interactive but must also know how to establish and maintain good relationship with other members of the group. From the prerequisites above, it can be said then that not every group work is a cooperative one. A group of people may do the same thing in the same place but may have different targets.

Cooperative learning also has its benefits. This type of learning is active and students in the process are motivated to learn. Since it encourages group work there is big chance that students will learn more since they can learn from their group mates and in the end there is an increase in the academic performance of the students. Above all, the teacher becomes more effective since he/she is also manifesting the other functions of a teacher being a facilitator of learning (since in this approach students learn together from their group mates and the teacher is no longer the sole source of information). Students develop socially and personally.

EXPERIENCE

Working with somebody in the computer was nice because I got to exchange ideas ending up with a good output. The sad thing about that project was that only those in my group that are knowledgeable with the computer did more of the job. In the real scenario that also happens, only those that are much knowledgeable tend to do more of the job.

REFLECTION

With computers, cooperative learning has become better because students can work together to come out with a very good output. Students can brainstorm and express their ideas through computers. Working together in computer makes students interact with each other for advice and help. However, computer works does not necessarily mean cooperative because there are computer works that are better off individualized. Hence, teachers should assign students their task, must be able to establish interdependence among students, teach cooperative skills, make everyone aware of their responsibilities, and of course help the student’s process information.

APPLICATION

 

I will make use of computer in my teaching later. Since computer activities develops cooperative learning, I will give activities that will require them to do so, like require them to make a documentary on the life of a butterfly. I will see to it that everyone’s participating. There are activities however that are better off as an individualized activity, hence I will make it sure that the activity that I am giving is appropriate and suits my instructional objectives.