Cooperative learning is an educational approach which aims to organize classroom activities into academic and social learning experiences.  Cooperative learning groups learn things together, not just do things together.  It promotes more learning than fierce.

            Students learn more from each other about subject matter than from the teacher.  Student was ashamed to ask question to his teacher.  But when the teacher grouped them to do some activities, many questions on their mind were already answered because they had some sort of brainstorming until they arrive with the correct answer and solution.  They develop their social skills by talking to each other per group, explaining their work to the class and their responsibility and cooperation to the group  would prosper.

            In cooperative learning, students must perceive that they sink or swim together. They are responsible for everyone else in the group, as well as in learning the assigned material.  Teacher should do preparations so that cooperative learning would succeed and should emphasize the task and goal of each activity.  Student must see that they all have the same goal that they need to divide the tasks and share the responsibility equally and that they will be given one evaluation or reward that will be applied to all members of the group.

            More difficult learning task such as problem solving and critical thinking come far ahead when cooperative learning strategies are used.  The combination of the team activities; the development of good social skills and the constant guidance from the teacher produces success in every activity and promotes better learning.

By: Vilma C. Aranas | Teacher III | Puting Buhangin Elementary School