Cooperative learning in focus: enhancing learning effect among all learners

Set up

With this project, we wanted to develop a digital environment with good practice examples of 'cooperative learning'. We started from the question of how we could support teachers in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom to increase the learning effect among all pupils.

Preliminary investigation

On the one hand, this proposal built further on the PWO project Cooperative learning and cloud computing as a powerful learning tool in education, which showed that teachers were convinced of the added value of cooperative learning but needed a tool to inspire and support them in their teaching assignment.  

On the other hand, with this project we also tried to respond to the needs and questions from the PWO project FAST - Formative Assessment Support Tablets, i.e. the sometimes difficult guidance of group work (timely and adequate response to non-fruitful cooperation among pupils such as social lazing, free-riding, unequal participation, teasing, low task tension, etc.).  

Output 

Specifically, for this project we developed a web tool with a number of good, feasible practical examples of cooperative learning. We took these examples from different learning areas and learning years. This way, we tried to meet primary school teachers' need for good practices. We hoped to inspire them to integrate cooperative learning more into teaching practice and thus increase the learning effect for all pupils. 
Besides visual material, tips and points of attention on organisation, instruction and guidance, the various application possibilities and useful background information are provided. The diversity and adapted care in each class are taken into account.