2. INTRODUCTION
• Both collaborative and cooperative learning are strategies
educators can use in the classroom.
• They both revolve around the idea of “group work”. However, the
objectives and results of the activity or project differ greatly.
Take a minute or two and think about the group activities
that you use in your classes.
3. COOPERATIVE
LEARNING
• Felder and Brent (ND) describe Cooperative Learning as, “ An approach to group work
that minimizes the occurrence of those unpleasant situations and maximizes the
learning and satisfaction that result from working [together] on a high-performance
team.”
• According to Fryer (2009), “ Cooperative learning is a successful teaching strategy in
which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of
learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject. Each member of a team
is responsible not only for learning what is taught but also for helping classmates learn,
thus creating an atmosphere of achievement”. Fryer goes on to say, “each person is
responsible for a portion of the work”, and “many times the teacher already knows the
problem and solution [that] students will be working towards”.
4. WHAT DOES COOPERATIVE LEARNING
LOOK LIKE?
• Students work in groups which promotes a sense of togetherness opposed to a sense
of individuality.
• Students are responsible for both individual learning and their classmates’ learning
• Groups contain members from high, moderate, and low academic achievement levels.
• Groups are, preferably, diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status.
• All group members contribute and cooperate
• Group members benefit from the knowledge, skills, and experience of other members.
• Group members acquire new knowledge and skills
• Rewards are both group and individually oriented.
5. COOPERATIVE EXAMPLE: JIGSAW
• One cooperative activity that has become a staple in
classrooms is a jigsaw activity.
• In this activity, students can create their own learning.
• Each student in the group is given a unique “piece” of
information. Hence, each group member needs to rely on the
“pieces” of information that the other group members have.
The information needs to come together like a jigsaw puzzle.
• This teaches students the importance of working together to
accomplish a mutually beneficial goal.
6. COLLABORATIVE
LEARNING
• In the 1980’s, Kenneth Bruffee wrote an article called, “Collaborative Learning and the
Conversation of Mankind”. Bruffee is considered by many to be the first “expert” in
collaborative teaching methods in the United States.
• Panitz (1999) states, “Collaborative Learning is a philosophy of interaction and personal
lifestyle where individuals are responsible for their actions, including learning and respect
the abilities and contributions of their peers.
• Collaborative Learning places more importance on the process itself; whereas,
cooperative learning places more importance on completing the process.
7. HOW DO COOPERATIVE AND
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING DIFFER?
COOPERATIVE COLLABORATIVE
• Mutual Respect
• Transparency
• Shared Goals
• Independent and dependent
• Loose network
• Short-term
• Sharing of ideas as a group
• Engagement
• Mutual Trust
• Vulnerability
• Shared Vision and Values
• Constant state of interdependence
• Tight Culture
• Long-term
• Generation of new ideas as a group
• Empowerment
Adapted by John Spencer (2016)
8. REFERENCES
• Bruffee, K. 1984. Collaborative Learning and the Conversation of Mankind. College
English 46(7): 635-652.
• Felder, R.M. & Brent, R. N.D. Cooperative Learning.
• Fryer, W. 2009. Collaborative Learning vs Cooperative Learning.
• Panitz, T. 1999. Collaborative versus Cooperative Learning: A Comparison of the two
Concepts Which Will Help Us Understand the Underlying Nature of Interactive
Learning.
• Spencer, J. 2016. The Difference Between Cooperation and Collaboration
