Article 5 - Group, collaborative and cooperative learning spaces

Being able to work collaboratively and cooperatively in group spaces is an important part of being a successful leaner. Working in a group is beneficial for sharing strategies, building on ideas and learning from other team members. This is essential in a school setting, because students can learn very useful social skills that will benefit them in their future. Through cooperative learning, students learn from each other, they are working together and when new ideas are pitched from a group member it can give a perspective, idea or thought people in the group have not considered. It broadens understanding and encourages students to share their ideas. Collaborative learning places emphasis on working collectively, everyone contributes ideas that produce that final product. Much of learning today is "dependant on social learning and scaffolding" (Slavin, 2010, Pritchard & Wollard, 2010) By setting up the classroom in table groups, students may feel more comfortable with sharing ideas and it encourages group discussions about topics covered class. Group learning is similar to collaborative learning as students work together toward a learning goal. It is vital in developing social skills, teachers still need to withhold structure and guidance throughout the process. There is always challenges to every type of learning, in regard to group learning there can be students who do not contribute as much, there can also be students who fall behind and are uncomfortable to ask a group member for help. Overall, group learning is a great way to reach learning goals and many skills are learnt in the process.

Pusey, S. 2019. Tips to help teacher pull off collaborative learning. Retrieved 6 September 2020 from

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2019/02/27/6-tips-teachers-collaborative-learning/