Discuss the five elements of cooperative learning.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Response should include: All cooperative learning models have at least five elements in common.
A common task or activity suitable for group work
The group must be working toward a common task or goal. Sometimes tasks are broken into individual assignments. Using this format, individual students assume specific roles and responsibilities. The students complete their individual work then come together and combine each person’s work into one team project.
Small-group learning
Usually students are assigned to heterogeneous groups of four to six members. The heterogeneous grouping mixes gender, ethnicity, ability, and achievement levels of the students.
Cooperative behavior
Students must use appropriate cooperative and collaborative skills. Students must know and trust each other, communicate accurately, accept and support one another, and resolve conflicts constructively.
Positive interdependence
Interdependence is the notion that individuals are linked with each other, and in order for the individual to succeed, the group needs to succeed and vice versa.
Individual accountability and responsibility
Individual accountability and responsibility may take the form of reward or task accountability.
Reward accountability refers to group members receiving rewards based on a total of individual contributions.
Task accountability refers to each student being accountable to the team for his or her portion of a team project.
Individual accountability requires that all students be held responsible for learning the material, as well as for contributing to the group.