Cooperation Is The Key To Learning

Cooperative learning lessons are very important in a classroom.  Teaching students to work together as a group gives them the tools to become better people.  Working cooperatively is a skill most people will need to use in many parts of their lives.  As a class we put together presentations to teach each other the parts of cooperative learning.  Cooperative learning is broken down into 5 parts:  Positive Interdependence, Individual Accountability, Group Processing, Social Skills, and Face-to-Face Promotive Interaction.  All these parts create a working cooperative classroom.

Positive Interdependence
Positive Interdependence is a skill students need to learn.  This is the skill working with others in a positive way.  Using the people in the group to complete a task and for support if there is a problem within the group.

Individual Accountability
Individual Accountability is when students working in a group they are still responsible for all the material that is learned.  If finding information is split up in the group at the end  all students are expected to know and understand the information.

Group Processing
Group Processing is how the group works together and manage the materials and task.  Classroom set up can help students with the group processing.  Setting desks into groups or having areas where students can me as a group can help facilitate the groups ability to function correctly.

Social Skills
Social Skills are a skill that students will use for the rest of their live.  Being able to communicate with others, share responsibilities, learn to agree and disagree and share ideas are skills we all use in our adult life.  By developing these skills early on will give the students a head start.

Face-to-Face Promotive Interaction
Face-to-Face Promotive Interaction is the ability to speak and work with another person face-to-face.  The saying is Face-to-Face and Knee-to-Knee.  Being able to use proper body language and speech while working in a group helps students develop their social skills.