UTILIZING COOPERATIVE LEARNING FOR IT GRADUATE STUDIES

Prof. Dr. Mohamed A. Arteimi

Libyan Academy of Graduate Studies

www.arteimi.info Presented at the International conference

ICEMI-2014, Hong Kong

February 15th , 2014

Definition of cooperative learning

Clarification

Benefits of Cooperative Learning

Characteristics of Cooperative Learning

Elements of Cooperative Learning

Case study at Libyan Academy of Graduate studies

Emotional Intelligence and Cooperative Learning

conclusion

What is cooperative learning ?

Clarification

Cooperative Learning is

Cooperative Learning Is not

Individual and group accountability

? A group of students sit together but individually work on separate assignments

Positive interdependence (swim or sink together)

? Is not a group led by one student who completes the work individually, leaving the others far away

Interpersonal and group skills

Group processing

Employers target important requirements for employability such as:

Problem solving

Communication

Collaboration and team work

Interpersonal & social skills

Time management

Therefore students should develop these skills as part of their Learning process.

Cooperative Learning strategy is set to develop the above mentioned skills.

Collective (group) processing(Decision making, conflict management )

Equal opportunity for success

Individual accountability

Social skills (team work)

It has been :

• successfully used in language learning,

• investigated in Multimedia studies for web site design

• Used in teaching chemistry

• Applied in teaching civil engineering courses

1- Long-term cooperative learning

(groups lasting for several weeks OR one semester OR one year)

2-Temporary cooperative learning

(groups are temporary, ad hoc, lasting for one session OR one class period

Students enrolled at the Libyan Academy for M. Sc degree in Information Technology

Two courses: E-Commerce & Web Application Security

Total (24) students

several projects such as:

- stylish women -Electronic yellow pages

- Digital Library - online store for electronic appliances

-Lecturer defines a project and clarifies goals

-Students form the groups by inviting other colleagues to join their group

-Each team is made up of 3, 4, or 5 students

-Adopting multifunctional structure/ Jigsaw approach

-Each student on the team becomes an expert on certain topics

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Leader

Note taker/Project presenter

Checker/Project Evaluator

Timer

Report writer

Verbal-propositional

intelligence

Spacial-performance

intelligence

Social intelligence

Intelligence type Capability & perception Effect

Linguistic Words & Language yes

Logical -Mathematical Logic & numbers yes

Musical Sound, music & rhythm ?

Bodily- kinesthetic Body movement control ?

Spacial - Visual Images & space ?

Interpersonal Other people’s feelings yes

Intrapersonal Self awareness yes

Naturalist Natural environment ?

Spiritual/ Existential Religion & ultimate issues ?

Moral Ethics, humanity & value of life ?

? Means the effect needs to be studied experimentally

() Reaching the class early

() Leadership behaviour

() Teaching Technique

() E-mail correspondence

Project-based learning methodology

Essential factors that prompts success while completing course using cooperative learning are:project based

Team work is an essential ingredient

Well defined project objectives

Regular monitoring for the progress and contribution for members of the group by team presentations and weekly progress reports

Good Time management

Emotional Intelligence( self awareness, self regulation, empathy, motivation, social skills)

() More effort has to be spent on integrating CL with learning management systems such as Moodle

() there is a need for conflict resolution mechanism when the re is a conflict within a group

() No optimal learning method, but we are confident that knowledge constructed through CL is beneficial for individuals replicable skills and knowledge retention