Lesson 14: Cooperative Learning with the Computer

We cannot deny the fact that even though computers are easily made available in the market there are schools that can’t afford to have 1:1 (one computer for a particular student) so the tendency is that they will have it as 2:1 (2 students with one computers) or 3:1. Will learning be effective with this kind of classroom setting? That is why the creativity of the teacher will have to respond to the situation and cooperative learning will likely to be the answer to the implementation of IT supported learning in our schools.

Cooperative learning

            Cooperative and collaborative is a kind of learning in which students learn by interacting in a group of small group. In a cooperative learning, there are five elements that are needed:

1.      A common goal

2.      Interdependence

3.      Interaction

4.      Individual accountability

5.      Social skills

The elements mentioned above are very important since we don’t want our students to be working alone in the group. We want them to be learning by group and within the group. This is the real essence of group activity. The interaction and sharing of ideas are the chief goal of the collaborative activity.

Pros of Collaborative Learning

a.       Encourages active learning, while motivating students;

b.      Increases academic performance;

c.       Promotes literacy and language skills; and

d.      Improves teacher effectiveness.

Collaborative learning with computer

            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 student learning in isolation that hinders the development of the student’s social skills.

            But this statement has already proven to be wrong because based also on a research; researchers agree that the computer is a fairly natural learning vehicle for cooperative learning. This kind of learning with the computer may also refer to us as promotive learning.

Components of cooperative learning

            Teachers are still not that confident in using computers in collaborative learning. To address this problem, there are several tasks that the teachers must perform. These are the following:

a.       Assigning students to mixed-ability teams;

b.      Establishing positive interdependence;

c.       Teaching cooperative social skills;

d.      Ensuring individual accountability; and

e.       Helping groups process information.

Some schools don’t have enough number of computers for their students but with teacher’s creativity and flexibility he/she can still use the available computers for teaching-learning. With the cooperative way of learning with computers teachers can utilize and accommodate the needs and interests of the learners. Like what our instruction did during one of our activity, he let those students with laptop be paired to those students who don’t have one. In this way, the teacher can address the needs of the students. It will not only benefit one student but the group and they can as well develop their social skill through interacting with other members of the group.

In the reporting, the reporters have shown the importance of working together if you are in a group. Every member must participate and so their assigned tasks so that the group will be successful in attaining the set goal. With the way they did the report, it was good since they have presented a friendly and nice PowerPoint presentation. They have also included relevant pictures to us that have furthered explained the concepts. Another, the reporters have presented related study that strengthened the statement that the computer is a fairly natural learning vehicle for cooperative learning.

As educator we must be artistic and flexible in our instruction. If the learning material (computer) is not enough to accommodate the students we must think of ways to proceed with the discussion. The problem must not hinder us in using the computers in our class. We cannot hide the fact that, there are schools that cannot afford to buy computers. In connection to this; teachers must find alternative ways on how he/she can let students learn without compromising the use of computers. And that is through collaborative learning with computers.