Determining the Difference between Collaborative and Cooperative Learning

Team 1 Determining the Difference between Collaborative and Cooperative Learning Jessie Glenda Jacki “Just keep swimmingJust keep swimming” Roz Russ Nina Matt Nina

**Index** • What is Collaboration; what is cooperation? • What are the differences & Similarities? • How do they effect team processes? • Which of the two is preferred? • Why do we plan to collaborate? • Teammates who have difficulty transitioning to collaboration. • Is conflict normal? • How will we overcome difficulties?

Cooperative Learning Collaborative Learning • Quantitative learning method • End product is content specific • Teacher controlled and centered • Tasks are divided and students are only responsible for his or her own piece • Involves competition, usually between team members • An “I” mentality instead of “we” • Qualitative learning method • Student centered • Respects and highlights team abilities and contributions • Focused on the process of working together • Student talk is stressed as a means of working together, sharing of authority, and group consensus Panitz, T. (1996). A definition of collaborative vs cooperative learning. Retrieved January 24, 2007, from Deliberations Web site: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/deliberations/collaborative-learning/panitz-paper.cfm BACK

Similarities Both are used as a learning tool in today’s society to facilitate learning Both acquire knowledge and social skills. These methods involve the placing of individuals into teams Differences Cooperative learning is more teacher oriented In collaborative learning the students are in control of their own learning Cooperative learning tends to facilitate competition between members Differences and Similarities between Cooperation and Collaboration BACK

How cooperation and collaboration effect team processes! • Cooperation Team Processes • Team spreads work out • Little input from other team members • Final project thrown together • Easy to form group • Easier to form, but less effective • Collaboration Team Processes • Team shares workload • Input from everybody • Can be difficult to form team • Storming Stage • Beneficial if successful • Final project will flow • Team as a whole generally learns more BACK

Why is Collaborative Learning more beneficial than Cooperative Learning? • The reasons for this are: • Collaborative learning grants much more autonomy to students. • Students are in control, but the teacher or project guide may be used as a resource or aide to the collaborative process. • According to Mittan (1997), “collaboration is a cross-fertilization of ideas, the energizing discussion among people with common interests and goals, the shared sense of accomplishments when those goals are reached.” BACK

Why our team plans to Collaborate instead of Cooperate: • Working collaboratively is preparing us for the future. • We will take the knowledge and social skills we are learning into our respective careers. • From our experiences, collaborative learning showed us ways to work together while using our individual abilities. • No one team member takes on all the leadership and responsibilities. • There needs to be cooperation and not competition in order to get work done. BACK

Is conflict normal in within a collaborative learning environment? YES!! • According to Tuckman (1965) there are five developmental phases that teams experience. • The second stage: Stormingis characterized by tension and conflict. • In this stage the group members experience a natural emotional response to the task. • Behaviors that are seen: • Arguing among members • Lack of clarity between members • Increase in tension and jealousy. • Lack of progress • Many other behaviors are seen and felt in this process can lead to team conflict. BACK Tuckman, B. (1965) Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63, 384- 399. Tuckman, B. & Jensen, M. (1977) Stages of small group development. Group and Organizational Studies, 2, 419-427.

Teammates that have trouble transitioning into collaborative learning: • It is obvious that transitioning from working solitarily on projects to collaboratively working with others, especially others that are in essence “virtual”, is going to be difficult. We have tried, and are still trying, to address these problems in the following ways: • Having a sense of understanding and helpfulness • *Communication!!! • Devising a clear concise plan • Executing the plan effectively BACK

Difficulties Different Schedules- class, work, personal ect. Attendance- Team members joining late, missing classes, and missing assignments. Lack of communication Not coming to the same conclusion on particular problems. Over Coming Obstacles As a team we will all post our schedules so the team is aware of all others time commitments else where. Attendance is a must, but if a team member can not attend class they must communicate with at least one team member and be caught up on what ever they may have missed. Lack of communication is our most difficult problem. As a team we must all be on the same page about everything from chats to assignments. We must set ground rules and stick to them with each member. Over Coming Team Difficulties BACK

Determining the Difference between Collaborative and Cooperative Learning