Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

Lesson 13: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

            This lesson encompasses the strategy which is the cooperative learning with the 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 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. Cooperative learning is learning by small groups of students who work together in a common learning task. It is often called group learning but to be truly cooperative learning, five elements are needed: a common goal, interdependence, interaction, individual accountability, and social skills. Researchers have made studies on the learning interaction between the student and the computer. The studies have great value since it has been a long standing fear that the computer may foster students learning in isolation that hinders the development of the student’s skills. There are components of cooperative learning, these are assigning students to mixed-ability teams; establishing positive interdependence; teaching cooperative social skills; insuring individual accountability, and helping groups process information.

            In cooperative learning, I can attest that this is one of the best strategies to teach students or learners about socializing with their co-learners and learn to interact with them as well as understand their diversities. In my own experience, When cooperative learning is applied with the use of computer though it is useful enough, there is a tendency that not all of the learners can be catered unless the teacher is pro enough to make every learners function their responsibility in the group. Ofcourse, cooperation of every individual is highly needed in this.

            Yes, cooperative learning is fun, yet it will be failure if the elements needed in the group or team is lacking or is not mastered. But the good thing is that interdependence will help them know one another deeper and interaction will break some of the unleashed potential hidden within the learner.

            As an application, I, as a teacher must consider the elements needed in cooperative learning before imposing activities to my students so that learning will not only be fun but will be meaningful as well. I will see to it that they will understand the art of teamwork. Nevertheless, learners nowadays can already interact with the use of computer. This is an edge of the teacher. I will use this as an aid so that I will not be burdened with the works I must do. Anyways it’s the reason why computers are being made, to make life easier. However, I will not be too dependent on computers because I know that everything really has limitations and it is my wisdom to decide what to do and what not to do as a teacher in the cooperative type of learning with the computer.