Reflection Five

When students come together to work on a project, assignment, etc that is know as collaborative learning. The whole point in collaborative learning is for students to work in teams. Collaborative groups are much bigger in numbers as far as group size then cooperative groups. With cooperative learning, students work in teams except the fact that the work is graded on a separate student basis. That is one thing that is different about cooperative and collaborative learning. It’s all about a team process that takes place in cooperative learning. By working in teams of small numbers, you are able to learn from your peers. You are able to help each other, with each person providing a little of some sort of different information. Just as in regular groups, work should be divided equally among students, each getting a fair portion. I feel that cooperative and collaborative learning are very good to use in the classroom. It allows children to explore the world around them and to learn more about themselves. It also opens up something new for teachers because it allows teachers to know more about their students. If there isn’t any teamwork in cooperative or collaborative learning, then the project or assignment will not be of whole. It would be all over the place, scattered with different ideas and different concepts that send the entire project into a different direction. Another reason why these two types of learning are good is because it builds and enhances student’s social skills. In group projects, students have to talk. They have to talk whether they are coming up with a topic, assigning certain parts of the project, or sharing research. Cooperative and collaborative learning is something I would use on the first day of school as far as social skills. On the first day of school, students are very shy towards each other often coming in uncomfortable because of the fact that they know that they don’t have friend just yet. So placing them in small groups will allow them to get to know each other and to find out new and interesting facts about their peers. It will give them a chance to open up not only to their peers but to their new surroundings and work environment. I believe that teachers has found things more easier when placing students in cooperative and collaborative groups and I believe that good grades in groups reflect that also.