Introduction:
Educators continuously seek innovative approaches to create a compelling, engaging, and efficient teaching method. One of the methods called cooperative learning, which is the standard method in Western society where using the process of working with each member of the group to reach the goal so that can enhance communication and ability to work with each other, which seamlessly aligns with M. David Merrill’s First Principles of Teaching and Learning. The article mainly focuses on the integration of the principles of cooperative learning with Merrill’s framework and explores how this synergy can enhance the educational experience.
Understanding Cooperative Learning:
Cooperative learning promotes collaboration among students. It also emphasizes positive interdependence, individual responsibility, face-to-face interaction, social skill development, and group processing. These elements form the foundation for students to engage in shared learning experiences that promote deeper understanding and retention.
Consistent principle with Merrill Lynch:
Activation:
Existing knowledge is set in motion by inviting students to talk about their ideas and past experiences related to the subject so that they can start cooperative learning quickly; this sets up a basis for deeper examination, thereby facilitating group-based problem-solving.
Demonstrations:
Teachers’ explanations are demonstrations and models they present for observation and imitation by the learners in cooperative learning. This can also be done through peer demonstrations to increase comprehension and develop an encouraging learning community.
Application:
Cooperative learning is most effective in applied learning environments, where students actively engage in projects, experiments, and discussions. This approach deepens their understanding and equips them with critical thinking skills that they can apply to real-world situations, making their learning experience more meaningful and practical.
Integration:
Reflective discussion and peer review are components of collaborative learning that integrate new information into existing mental models. Students have deep meaning when they collaborate with others on reflections, which leads them to consolidate their insights.
Problem-centered learning:
Collaborative education is particularly effective in problem-centered settings, where students tackle complex real-world problems progressively. Learners acquire adaptive expertise and enhance their problem-solving abilities when solving authentic tasks.
Example:
As a Health Information Science Major student, I know cooperative learning is always involved in our education. Through those activities and projects, we can understand more about how to work with people in the future since our work involves many working with people. For example, health information students must build a wearable Device database in SQL as a group assignment.
- Set a Clear goal: That is the first thing needed, no matter what kind of learning. For example, the assignment aims to build an EHR database as a group.
- Divide the work: Each group member will do one part of the assignment, as some people will respond to the coding or interface part. Even someone will respond on the Navigation. Learning how to work with your team members can increase the quality of the work.
- Help Each Other: When we work with wearable Devices, we can guide others. No one is perfect in the world, and we need help from each other to reach our goals. For example, if a teammate is stuck on the coding part, another teammate who is good at work coding can help to go through the process to reach their common goal.
- Feedback: After the result of the assignment, it will always come with input from the teacher, which we as a group can gather each other and discuss which part of the assignment can do better
Conclusion:
Using the Merill framework for cooperative work, educators can create a dynamic environment for the learners to inspire their collaboration, critical thinking, and participation. Through that interaction, educators can release the potential of transformative education and make those learners more active participants in their learning journeys.
I have a comment on jungjooyoon post two. Feel free to take a look:
EDCI335 Post 2
Your introduction effectively integrates cooperative learning with Merrill’s First Principles and clearly introduces the topic. Overall, the content is easy to understand and explains the advantages of the educational method well.
Thank you for this insightful post on the integration of cooperative learning with Merrill’s First Principles of Teaching and Learning. The alignment of these principles provides a robust framework for fostering student engagement and deeper understanding. Your example from Health Information Science effectively illustrates the practical benefits of cooperative learning in preparing students for real-world collaboration. Great job highlighting how these educational strategies can transform the learning experience!