Cooperative teaching method in small groups

Collaborative capacity is considered as one of the important human capacities in today's society. Therefore, developing cooperative capacity in schools has become an educational trend in the world. The cooperative teaching method in small groups is a practical reflection of that trend.

Group teaching is also known by different names such as: Cooperative teaching, Small group teaching, in which students of a class are divided into small groups, within a limited time, each group is self-reliant. complete learning tasks on the basis of assignment and work cooperation. The results of the group's work are then presented and evaluated in front of the whole class.

Group teaching, if well organized, will promote positivity and responsibility; develop students' ability to work collaboratively and to communicate.

1 . NATURE

The group discussion method is used to help all students actively participate in the learning process, creating opportunities for them to share knowledge, experiences, and ideas to solve relevant problems. related to the lesson content; create opportunities for children to exchange and learn from each other; work together to solve common tasks.

The small group cooperative teaching method is also known by some other names such as “Group discussion method” or Cooperative teaching method.

This is a Teaching Method in which  “Students are divided into separate small groups, responsible for a single goal, to be accomplished through each person's separate task. Separate individual activities are organized, organically linked together to achieve a common goal” .

2. IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

The group discussion method is used to help all students actively participate in the learning process, creating opportunities for them to share knowledge, experiences, and ideas to solve relevant problems. related to the lesson content; create opportunities for children to exchange and learn from each other; work together to solve common tasks.

When using this Teaching Method, the class is divided into groups of 4 to 6 people. Depending on the pedagogical purposes and the requirements of the learning problem, groups are randomly or intentionally divided, maintained stable throughout the whole lesson or changed according to each activity, each part of the lesson, the groups that are assigned the same task, or each group receive a different task, are parts of a common theme.

The structure of a group activity (in a part of a lesson, or a period, a session) can be as follows:

Step 1. Work together as a class

• The teacher introduces the topic of discussion, raises the problem, determines the cognitive task.
• Organize groups, assign tasks to groups, set time and assign working positions to groups.
• Instructions on how to work in groups (if needed).

Step 2. Teamwork

• Make a work plan
• Agreement on working rules
• Assign in groups, each individual works independently.
• Exchange ideas and discuss in groups.
• Appoint a representative to present the group's work results.

Step 3. Discuss and summarize in front of the whole class

• The representative of each group presents the results of the group's discussion.
• Other groups observe, listen, question, comment and add ideas.
• The teacher summarizes and comments, poses problems for the next lesson or the next problem

3. ADVANTAGES OF US

• Students learn how to collaborate in many ways
• Ss can state their point of view, hear other's views in the group, in class; can exchange, discuss different ideas and come up with the optimal solution for the task assigned to the group. Through that way of learning, students' knowledge will be less subjective and one-sided, increasing their scientific objectivity, and their critical thinking will be trained and developed.
• Team members share their own thoughts, concerns, experiences, and insights, build new perceptions and attitudes, and learn from each other. Knowledge becomes deeper, more sustainable, easier to remember and faster to remember because it is exchanged and learned among group members, and can participate in discussions and presentations. Students are excited to have their contribution to the overall success of the whole class.
• Thanks to the open discussion atmosphere, students, especially those who are shy, become bolder; they learn to express their opinions, to listen critically to your ideas; thereby, helping students easily integrate into the group community, giving them confidence and interest in learning and living.
• Students' knowledge and social experience are richer; Students' communication skills and cooperation skills are developed.

4. LIMITATIONS ONLY

• Some students are shy or for some reason do not participate in the group's activities, so if the teacher does not properly assign them, it can lead to a situation where only a few students are quite involved while the majority of students. else doesn't work.
• The opinions of the groups may be too scattered or conflicting with each other (especially in the social sciences).
• Time may be extended
• For classes with large numbers or narrow classrooms, tables and chairs are difficult to move, it is difficult to organize group activities. When arguing, it easily leads to noisy classes, affecting other classes.

5. WHEN TO USE THIS METHOD

• Only activities that  require the coordination of individuals to complete tasks more quickly and efficiently than individual activities  should use this method.
• Group teaching is often applied to deepen, practice, reinforce a learned topic or also learn a new topic.
• Test questions for group teaching preparation:
  • Is the topic suitable for group teaching?
  • Are the groups working on the same or different tasks?
  • Does the student have enough knowledge and conditions for group work?
  • How should group work be presented?
  • By what criteria should groups be divided?
  • Need to organize the office, how to place tables and chairs?

See more: Teaching methods to detect and solve problems