Cooperative Learning

By Carmen Hurtado Teacher Trainer hurtado_cr@up.edu.pe

Lets help Paola

Dear Friends, I always have a doubt about: collaboration or cooperation? An example: I hope we could continue our collaboration (or cooperation). Is it an spanglish version? Thank you for any suggestion! Bye! Paola

Re: Collaboration or cooperation?

It should be "collaboration"... I hope we can continue our collaboration on the project. (It means that I hope you will work with me.) For cooperation... I hope you will give me your cooperation on this project. (It means that I hope you will work with me but also I hope that you will agree with me and not cause any resistence)

Re: Collaboration or cooperation?

Either cooperation or collaboration could be correct. It depends on what they are doing together. You have not provided enough context to tell. If two people are working together to create something (write a book, produce a film, etc.), then collaboration is the right word. If two people (or two businesses) are working together on a project for mutal benefit, then cooperation is the right word.

Whats your partners opinion?

Seeing the difference between Cooperation and Collaboration

ideas from different authors

Cooperation Working together to achieve a common goal. Accomplish by dividing the job among participants. Each person is responsible for a portion of the problem solving. Collaboration
Provides students a significant opportunity to learn from one another, negotiate meaning, and improve social skills. Working Together to accomplish shared goals. Mutual engagement of participants to solve the problem together.

Lets sum up
Cooperation
It is more focus on working together to create an end product. All participants do their assigned parts separately and bring their results to the table. Collaboration Participants share in the process of knowledge creation. Direct interaction among individuals to produce a product an involve negotiations, discussions, and accomodating others perspectives.

Strenghts of collaboration
To create new insights during the discussions. Ss build new understanding by challenging others ideas and defending their own. Synthesis of the information through the combination of different perspectives, views, talents, etc. different from their own (individually).

Now lets reflect on the following:

Collaboration a chimera or a realistic goal? A limited yet important role for teachers? Laying the ground for successful collaboration.

Lets share views now

Is it collaboration easy to achieve? Why? Why not? Does it come naturally? How do we grade our students? Whats the teacherr role? How often do we include tasks in our classes? How to make it succesful?

How to make it successful

Being consistent Through motivation, everybodys participation, being available for ss, not to get discouraged when Positive environment

Use a lot of positive reinforcement. Ask ss how they feel about their final product. Is it better? Raise SS awareness of the advantages when sharing resources and expertise.

Sample collaborative activities

Vocabulary brainstorming. A structured survey Drawing together All the ingredients matter! The secret of the internet

 How can I be sure that all students will participate? Should teachers assign roles-or not? How sould teachers handle emotional reactions?

Conclusions
How to organize collaborative activities. The ability to collaborate will be developed if enough opportunities are given. It is no longer a competition against one another, but a fun process of working together to build something new.