What us Collaborative learning and what is Cooperative Learning? Often one can confuse the two, but believe me there are distinctive differences.
What is Cooperative Learning?– A group of students work together on a structured activity, where the workload is split equally amongst the group members and each is responsible for their work. The group is assessed together as whole.
What is Collaborative Learning?–Teaching and Learning where students come together as a team to explore questions, and work on meaningful projects. A group of students with different views and experiences working together on a shared assignment, where they all have a common goal.
Collaborative Learning has specific features, where students can gain several strengths and abilities. Students acquire leadership skills and learn the ability to work as part of a team, support others and work together to meet goals. It may also lead to future collaboration. It enables professional development and improves learning. Collaboration is intentional and is supported by the use of technology. Students/group members learn from each other as well as become familiar with the various techno tools.
PLN is a tool! It is effective and a platform for sharing. The PLN facilitates participation and develops personal skills. I a nutshell, it is a group of colleagues that work together to improve learning and derive knowledge from each other.
Cooperation on the other hand has its own set of challenges. Making members of the group responsible for each other’s learning. This can place too great a burden on some students. In mixed-ability groups, the result is often that stronger students are left to teach weaker students and do most of the work. It encourages only lower-level thinking and ignoring the strategies necessary for the inclusion of critical or higher-level thought. In small groups, there is sometimes only enough time to focus on the task at its most basic level. Some may not develop skills towards a PLN.
Group work is a starting point to build network, and makes me aware of the choices which continuously build more network opportunity to create digital PLN network in global wide for Moodle as well as makes teaching more relevant to students. Larger group of students are encouraged to create their own groups outside the learning platform, students have their first positive learning experience through their network. People exchange their knowledge, reciprocal learning connections with can be supportive connections, establish a connection effectively out their group with professional as well as research challenges way of learning.
