The approach I choose for our topic, Economics, is Cooperative Learning. Cooperative learning is one of the most thoroughly researched of all instructional methods, stands for the instructional use of small groups that students can work together to maximize both their own and each other’s learning (What is cooperative learning, 2018). Cooperative learning is consist of 5 key elements. The first element is Positive interdependence that a group has a clear goal together and positively depends on each other to benefit all of the group members. Next, individual and group accountability is also an important characteristic that each member should be responsible for a fair contribution of efforts to the group goal. The third element is interpersonal and small group skills, which requires all of the members function as part of the group and provide their competencies such as leadership, communication and conflict management. Forthly, face-to-face promotive interaction means group members share resources and provide them with both academic and emotional support to achieve the mutal goal. The last element is the group processing, standing for group members to feel comfortable and open to communicate, no matter concerns or accomplishments, which is helpful for effective relationship maintenance (Five Basic Elements of Cooperative Learning, 2017).
Cooperative learning approach aligns well with the Economics topic, since the Economics learning process will be more efficient and easier with the help from others. The reciprocal nature of cooperative learning facilitates learners to demonstrate understanding by sharing and communicating their thoughts with peers, which allows them to receive feedbacks from each other and improve their current knowledge. For example, elasticity contains many different subtypes and students may find it is difficult to identify. If a student is unclear about the concept, they share their confusion with their group members and communicate together to figure out and identify each elasticity diagram instead of struggling with it alone for long time. With the collaboration with group members, the Economics learning process becomes much faster, which enables students to learn and absorb knowledge in a shorter amount of time.
Comment:
3 June 2023 at 8:47 am
Hi Wanqin,
Thanks for sharing your fantastic post! I gained some new ideas after reading your post about what and how the cooperative learning approach suits our learning session design from your perspective since my choice is inquiry-based learning. I agree with your idea that the cooperative learning approach could align with our learning design. It facilitates students’ learning processes and reduces learning difficulty through collaboration study. As you mentioned, students could discuss together when they encounter confused problems or esoteric concepts. By combining each other’s different understandings from their own perspectives, the problem or the concepts can always obtain a more comprehensive solution or explanation. The students do not need to struggle with the issue independently, which impedes their study progression. A connection I noticed between your work and mine is that we both mentioned sharing ideas with others in the learning process. One of the methods in the inquiry-based learning approach is group discussion as well, in which all the learners are separated into small groups firstly to investigate a problem and then combine all the groups into the whole class to share their ideas about the problem solution from a different point of view. I think the process of sharing ideas helps the students build a more profound and complete understanding of the materials from the perspectives of both others and themselves. Compared cooperative learning approach and inquiry-based learning approach, I feel the former focuses more on how collaboration benefits the learning progression, and the latter emphasizes how the students develop their learning skills and independence. Independence does not mean the students only perform the individual study; it represents the students’ motivation to do self-exploration in the study, whether in a group or individually.
Thanks,
Angel Liu
3 June 2023 at 11:44 am
Hi Wanqin,
Thanks for sharing your post. Positive interdependence, individual and group accountability, interpersonal and small group skills, face-to-face promotional engagement, and group processing are the five fundamental components of cooperative learning that you stated. They lay a strong foundation for successful collaborative learning. These components promote a cooperative and encouraging environment where students actively interact with one another, take ownership of their contributions, hone crucial interpersonal skills, and encourage one another in order to accomplish common objectives.
3 June 2023 at 10:55 pm
Hi，
I agree with you on the cooperative learning approach. Cooperation can improve the efficiency of the team, and the players can learn from each other through cooperation. I think cooperation also allows people to become united and their personalities to become tolerant.