Junilda Antoniou

06-12-2021

Ways to Implement Cooperative Learning

1. List the 6 ways to implement cooperative learning with a brief definition of each:
Introduce the concept. The teacher demonstrates step by step how to complete a task by using
concrete illustration and follows with modeling the strategy.
Regulate difficulty during guided practice. The teacher uses simplified situations and presents
the strategy one step at a time. Students are guided through the process with the teacher's
assistance.

Provide varying contexts for student practice. The teacher guides the students into practicing
the strategy using authentic problems. Students are grouped in small groups and conduct
practice sessions.
Provide feedback. Students are provided with feedback. They can also self-evaluate their
performance by using evaluative checklists.

Increase student responsibility. Independent use of strategies is expected from the students.
Supports are gradually decreased as students become more proficient. Student mastery is
evaluated by the teacher.
Provide independent practice. The teacher provides the students with extensive opportunities
for practice, and they apply the steps to new situations.

2. Explain why a teacher would use each method. Do some methods have more of a benefit than
others depending on the situation? Explain.

Introducing the concept is a great way to facilitate the learning process for the students.
Showing the students step by step what they are expected to do and showing them a model of
the finished product will help them to learn easier and more precisely what they are required
to.

Regulating difficulty during guided practice is a great method to be used with students who are
still struggling to learn something. Simplified situations and assistance are necessary for
students struggling to learn new concepts.
Providing varying contexts for student practice is a way of personalizing teaching and enabling
students to practice what they learn. Students can be grouped together according to their level
of skills. The teacher should structure the task in such a way that will enable each student to
contribute significantly to the completion of the activity according to his or her ability.
Providing students with feedback impacts positively their performance. It has been confirmed
by research that meaningful feedback can enhance their learning and achievement.
Increasing student responsibility will make learning more rewarding for the students. They will
be required to use the strategies independently, they will need less support from the teacher,
and will be more self-directed.
Providing independent practice will increase the student's motivation and confidence.
Increased opportunities for completing tasks independently will enhance their creativity.

All the above scaffolding strategies used during cooperative learning are beneficial to facilitate
the learning process of the students. They can be implemented in various parts of the learning
process and enhance it. I see them as part of an entire process. I think that they must be used
all in connection to one another. The highest efficacy is achieved when they are implemented in
the most suitable situation. For example, regulation difficulty during guided practice is
beneficial when students are not familiar yet with the new strategy and the tasks they are
required to complete. Once they have achieved some clarity at what they are expected to do
and are familiar with the steps they must follow to complete the tasks, they will benefit from
practicing their skills in varying contexts such as being grouped in small groups with peers who
have similar levels of skills, or practicing the strategy independently using authentic problems.

3. Do you anticipate a few of these methods being your "go-to" preferred ways to teach kids
with special needs? Why or why not?

I would like to use all these methods if I were to teach kids with special needs. I would like to
incorporate them in various parts of my teaching process in accordance with the student's
needs in each step of their learning process. My favorite strategy is regulating difficulty during
guided practice. I would like to use this method to simplify situations and to offer highly
personalized assistance to each student who is struggling to learn something.