Answer to Question #187845 in English for Sithabile

Question

1 Describe five conditions which have to be met to create an environment in which cooperative 

learning can take place.

4.2 What are the benefits of small-group learning in a cooperative environment? (

4.3 Facilitators and/or group leaders frequently experience common problems that greatly 

reduce the effectiveness of small-group learning activities. Identify five problems/reasons 

that result in uneven contributions while learners are actually engaged in group work.

Answer 1

Five conditions to be met to create environment in which cooperative learning can take place includes:

1. Positive interdependence. This means the main goals must be clear to every member of the group. The key point is committing to personal success as well as success of every member of the group.

2. Individual accountability. The accountability of each member is to achieve the goals by contributing a fair share towards the group goal.

3. Interpersonal skills. This involves completing task, communicating, decision making, problem solving and appreciating each other so as to achieve the main goal of the group.

4. Face to Face promotive interaction. Group members must promote each other through resource sharing. They need to support and encourage each member.

5. Group processing. Open communication should be encouraged to help group members achieve their goals and maintain effective relationship.

Benefits of small-group learning in a cooperative environment.

Improves higher level of thinking in sense that students are able to experience how others reason and think about the task at hand. Also it improves their social skills because they are able to listen to each other and resolve conflicts.

Five common problems that greatly

reduce the effectiveness of small-group learning activities.

1. Poor communication. It is normally experience when group members may misunderstand each other or communicate negatively which can lead to assumptions or misinterpretation of what is being discussed.

2. Personal issues. It may arise through group members when they disagree in relation to the topic being discussed.

3. Unequal contribution whereby some members are quite than others and not contributing their ideas during discussion.

4. Lack of focus .This happens when members struggle to focus on their work due to complex task.

5. Missing deadline due to group members poor planning or poor time management during the discussion.