Learning Spaces

Co-operative learning is a learning environment where students work together and are responsible for their own learning as well as others in their group. Co-operative learning has a structure which ensures that all students equally contribute to discussions and activities. It results in all students learning together, with no child being left behind. Co-operative learning is based on following set structures. ‘structures differ in their usefulness in the academic, cognitive, and social domains, as well as in their usefulness in different steps of a lesson plan (Kagan, 1989)

Group learning is an environment which has limited to no structure. Children work together on a topic/task to achieve an outcome. The learning of each child is closely monitored or assessed. The final production of the group is considered the understanding and ability of all who are in the group.

Collaborative learning it appears to be set somewhere between co-operative learning and group learning. There is often some structure or guidance given through roles such as organiser, visionary, doer and carer. It is more structured than Group learning but does not have the same sense of everybody equally contributing as co-operative learning does.

I believe co-operative learning presents the best educational outcomes as the structures ensure all students have equal input. Not just that they are given the opportunity but that the structure requires it. It allows teachers to regularly allow students to work in groups knowing they are all learning and not just the ‘dominant’ personality overtaking.

Kagan, S. (1989). The structural approach to cooperative learning. Educational Leadership, 47(4), 12-15.