Background of the Teaching Methodology - Essay Example

Running Head: Teaching Methodology Teaching Methodology Customer Inserts His/Her Name Customer Inserts Grade Course Customer Inserts Tutor’s Name 15, October, 2010 Introduction Teaching methods are the different modes or ways through which learning can take place. It is considered as a consistent way in which a teacher can use to explain and instill knowledge in a student. It involves a combination of factors including physiological, affective and cognitive factors which indicates a learner’s response, interaction and perception of any given learning environment. A teaching method can also be considered as a “combination of education conditions specific to each student, where effective learning is made possible” (Stephanie, 2003). Teaching methods are thus concerned with how a person explains a point or teaches rather than what is taught. It is important that a teacher understands the different teaching methods and assesses the best with regard to the student in context so that he or she can work towards capitalization of the strengths of the students while working on their weaknesses. Cooperative learning is a teaching method whereby the students are allowed to actively take part in the learning process. This method has been seen as that which incorporates other methods of teaching that include group discussions. Here the students are allowed to ask and answer questions, as well as air out their various ideas. In this method, students with different kinds of abilities are grouped together in small teams and using different kinds of learning activities which enable them to improve their respective understanding for a particular subject area. Here, every member of the team is required to help the members of their team to learn. The goal of each team is to ensure that each student successfully comprehends and completes all the work given by the teacher. The goals attained by the students as a group are seen as those that can not be achieved individually (Gatto, 2006). When conducted well, collaborative teaching is very effective as it meets the diverse learning needs of students. Three approaches can be followed in implementing collaborative teaching method. These include, complementary instruction, conducting activities that support learning and team teaching. In this regard, team teaching can take the form of group discussions where students are in a free to discuss ideas. Slow learning students benefit in that one idea is explained from different perspectives as understood by each student. There are four common learning styles known as activists, pragmatics, theorists and reflectors. Each student has a unique learning style which must be supported by the teaching method if the student is to benefit from the learning sessions conducted. A reflector considers any implication of what is being said and takes time to think it through. Such a person performs best working in the context of a group. Such a person will be highly supported by collaborative teaching method due to the application of group discussions. Back Ground of the Teaching Method Cooperative learning is based on two key theoretical approaches namely; cognitive and motivational approaches. Due to the fact that students learning through this methodology perceive their failure or success as being dependent on their ability to work as a team makes them capable of encouraging or motivating each other to ensure that the group succeeds. According to the cognitive theory, cooperative learning aims at helping students gain critical – thinking skills. The fact that this method of teaching brings out a situation whereby students are required to discuss and critical explain a number of perspectives means that students are able to have a clearer understanding of the provided material. Elaborative form of thinking is achieved through students’ ability to give as well as receive explanations a lot more often (Gatto, 2006). This method incorporates ideas brought in by Piaget, Kohlberg and Vygotsky in that in such a way that individuals and the surrounding social setting are seen as being active dynamics in the process of learning as the students try to imitate the process of real life learning. A combination of individual accountability and team work enable s students to acquire not only knowledge but also social skills. This methodology is seen as a strategy that works towards enabling students to effectively work together as a team with members being of different back grounds, talents and abilities and who all aims at achieving an identified aim. Each member of the team is responsible for the success of the other in addition to learning all the material provided. By working towards ensuring that every member of the team gets to successfully comprehend as well as complete all assignments given, the students are able to create an environment of achievement (Lieberman, 2004). This in turn results into a situation whereby new concepts are framed by basing their conclusions on previously acquired knowledge hence they are able to fully comprehend and retain all the material learnt. Implementation of Cooperative Learning The process of implementing cooperative learning occurs in three phases which include; pre implementation phase, implementation and post implementation.pre implementation involves identification of instructional objectives, determining the size of the groups and assigning the various students to these groups, arranging the rooms, planning of the instructional materials as a way of ensuring interdependence, assigning of group roles and tasks, explaining the criteria to use to achieve success, developing positive accountability and interdependence as well as identifying the desired behaviors. Implementation phase on the other hand consists of behavior monitoring, intervening where necessary, needs assistance as well as praising the students. The post-implementation phase which includes: providing closure through summarization, evaluating students' learning, and reflecting on what happened. Prior to the commencement of a cooperative lesson, some things need to be dealt with in the first place. The course instructor is supposed to have an examination of the students who employ the use of cooperative learning (CL) in the classrooms. The people who are identified can serve as mentors or coaches. If both the instructors and students were to study much on CL, it would be of great benefit to them. This is essential in that it gives them the right ways in which they can implement the techniques that they have learnt. On top of that, they get to learn the pros and cons of using the techniques. In this case, they will have been able, through reading, to decide whether CL is the right tool to use in the classes or not. This more of training can come in various ways like through some workshops or even seminars. The type of training should be more based on practical. In this kind of practice, the instructors should have the opportunity to practice on what they are asking the students to engage in. the mode of training is more or less supposed to be dynamic. As the students are learning about this art, more concentration should be focused on building a resource list. This is essential in that it helps them to refer to as they go on with the implementation process. They can also form support groups with other teachers who use this style in their classes. This helps in the development of the CL lessons (Krueger, 1994). Appropriateness of the method The current educational climate is characterized by students with varying abilities that are influenced by different factors that include technology which have continued to take part in our student’s development, level of knowledge. It is important for every teacher to therefore ensure the learning process takes into consideration the different abilities, levels of knowledge and talents and that all students get to efficiently grasp all what has been taught. Cooperative learning is one way through which this can be achieved. Cooperative learning ensures that students get to talk or interact with each other as well as listen to the different ideas brought out by each student. Through this method students are able to think in a way that is unbiased. After the lesson plan has been carried out, the teacher can easily assess the success of the lesson by studying the ability of each student to work in groups or to effectively participate in team work, study the students’ presentation, leadership as well as communication skills and even the students’ level of confidentiality. According to the various researches done, cooperative techniques of learning are a key promoter of student learning as well as academic achievement. Students have also been found to get inspired by the teachers who dedicate their time to ensure that they plan all activities thus promoting an encouraging atmosphere. Obtaining encouragement from both students and teachers is a key to the achievement of high levels of self-efficacy which in turn aids in promoting higher student grades. Requiring group members to verbalize the various ideas they may have enables them to develop clearer concepts that they keep in memory. According to Vygotsky verbalizing plays a key function in task solutions. Discussions among the group members leads to higher levels of frequent summarization due to the fact that students are continuously elaborating and explaining thus they keep on validating and strengthening their thoughts. Cooperative learning also promotes interaction within students socially thus benefiting the students in this perspective. When the students are involved in the explanation of how they reason, the get to have better oral skills in communication. The social interaction that comes with it helps them in having the right social behaviors which can be of much help in employment situations. At the same time, when the students follow the required structuring for CL, they get to develop skills that will be of much essence in the society in the development of necessary workplace functionality. Such kinds of skills are decision making processes, management of conflicts, leadership and building of trust and lastly, the most necessary communication skills (Lieberman, 2004). The students are also able to develop a social support system. The whole community and other stakeholders like the teachers, subordinate staff and parents are integrated together into this system. They provide the students with the necessary support structures for the learning process to be smooth. There are additional psychological benefits to the students. They get [positive attitudes to a higher degree towards the process of learning and the methods that are incorporated into their teaching. The great part that they play in this process allows them to enhance their experiences in learning. The students get to have a development of their interpersonal relationships. They get to have a smart exchange of ideas between their peers in constructive ways. Cooperative learning benefits are also evident in team of assessment in that, the teacher as well as the instructor is able to get immediate feedback mainly because it is very possible to observe the effectiveness of each class. As instructors go around the class room and as they get to observe the groups interacting as well as explaining their views, they get to identify misconceptions in the early stages and in turn get to correct them early enough. Through observation the teacher can be able to give helpful level of insight into the growth and abilities of the students. Other than the use of grades for assessment, teachers can also use writing reflections, observations as well as peer assessment (Krueger, 1994). Good learning Evaluation is very important in a learning environment. Without evaluation, one cannot determine the effectiveness of a teaching method. Collaborative learning can be evaluated through group discussions where each group is assigned a task and later rated. The more points a group achieves the more effective the learning method applied. As second evaluation method is through oral and written individual tests. This is important in understanding the level of understanding of each student and determining the special learning needs of each student (Palmer, 2006). SWOT Analysis Internal Strengths Weaknesses Ability to meet the needs of diverse students. Allows for a chance to apply learnt ideas in practical situations. Since there is brain storming, diagrammatic reasoning becomes very effective Consumes a lot of time and hence cannot be applied where there is limited time and a lot to be learnt. External Threats Opportunities Time limitation Incompatibility in group discussions Strikes in schools that may result to students being given handouts to read at home. Increased use of computers in learning increases the chance of capturing more ideas. Gain new friends/contacts/relationships and diverse learning styles Chance for more students to understand more due to the application of different methods Overcoming Weaknesses: Recommendations As a way of ensuring that the methods of teaching that the teacher uses is highly effective and therefore capable of meeting the lesson’s objectives, there is need for the teacher to develop certain strategies hereby indicated as recommendations. Its is through such strategies that the teacher will be able to utilize cooperative learning ensuring that it meets the social as well as educational needs of each student today. The teacher should focus on applying a variety of methodologies so as to ensure that all students participate effectively in the class and are in a position to retain as much information as possible. There is need to involve students in determining their learning styles and areas where they need more knowledge as well as the Inclusion of multiple teaching techniques is important in ensuring that the learning needs of all students are met adequately (Palmer, 2006). Conclusion Cooperative learning is teaching method which is applicable in the current form of education whereby the abilities, level of knowledge as well as understanding of different students vary as influenced by different factors and whereby there is need for the needs of every child to be met. It is only through cooperative learning that a level of equality in education can be obtained and where by all students get to grasp all of the material provided by the teachers. References Gatto, J. (2006). A Different Kind of Teacher: Solving the Crisis of American Schooling. Berkeley Hills Books Krueger R.A. (1994) Focus groups: a practical guide for applied research. 2nd Ed. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Lieberman, A. (2004). Teacher Leadership. California: Jossey-Bass. Palmer, P. (2006) Teaching Practice: Teaching Methods. New York: Prentice Hall Stephanie, M. (2003) "Real teams in small Australian firms", Journal of Management Development, 22 ( 9). Read More