Author: Prarthita Biswas

Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore has rightly said “….let us unite, not in spite of our differences, but through them. For differences can never be wiped away, and life would be so much the poorer without them. Let all human races keep their own personalities, and yet come together, not in a uniformity that is dead, but in a unity that is living”.

About Co-operative learning: Cooperative learning is an instructional strategy that enables small groups of students to work together on a common assignment. The parameters often vary, as students can work collaboratively on a variety of problems, ranging from simple mathematics problems to large assignments such as proposing environmental solutions on a national level. Students are sometimes individually responsible for their part or role in the assignment, and sometimes they are held accountable as an entire group.

Cooperative learning has received a lot of attention and praise—especially since the 1990s when Johnson and Johnson outlined the five basic elements that allowed successful small-group learning:

• Positive interdependence: Students feel responsible for their own and the group’s effort.
• Face-to-face interaction: Students encourage and support one another; the environment encourages discussion and eye contact.
• Individual and group accountability: Each student is responsible for doing their part; the group is accountable for meeting its goal.
• Social Skills: Group members gain direct instruction in the interpersonal, social, and collaborative skills needed to work with others.
• Group processing: Group members analyze their own and the group’s ability to work together.

Co-operative learning experience

 A true cooperative learning experience requires that a number of criteria be met.  They are:

    -Division of labor among students in the group
    -Face-to-face interaction between students
    -Assignment of specific roles and duties to students
    -Group processing of a task
    -Positive interdependence in which students all need to do their assigned duties in     

     order for the task to be completed.
    -Individual accountability for completing one’s own assigned duties
    -The development of social skills as a result of cooperative interaction
    -Provision of group rewards by the teacher

The introduction of “learning teams” into the classroom is an effective method for increasing the number of students willing to make an effort to learn in school.  The teams usually work together on long-term assignments, although sometimes students remain together in duos, triads or quadrants for the entire day.  In these groups, each individual is responsible for assuring that the other team members learn the assigned material.  Those who understand the lesson/material are responsible for teaching it to the others.  Groups progress to a new unit of study when all members of the group have mastered the lesson.

 Group members are also responsible for the behavior of all members.  If a team member displays inappropriate behavior, it is the duty of fellow members to remind that student to `check’ him/herself.  The members attempt to refocus the misbehaving student by offering help and suggestions.

 Initially, temporary grouping can help students to grasp the concept of long-term learning teams, and practice responsibilities while the teacher sharpens his/her skills and receives feedback from the students regarding how to improve assignments.
( Reference : http://www.behavioradvisor.com/CoopLearning.html)

Conclusion :  Cooperative learning is gaining popularity for a number of reasons.  Evidence indicates that it raises achievement, promotes positive self concept, and raises regard for others.  It appears to be especially useful for students from racial minority and low socio-economic groups who have not excelled to the same degree as middle income majority-culture pupils in the traditional competitive classroom.  The performance of these previously less successful groups tends to rise in cooperative groups, majority culture students seem to achieve just as well as with the individually-oriented style of instruction and learning, often better.  Cooperative learning may also help to lessen the fatalistic attitude toward schooling that is often found among students from minority groups and those who have experienced repeated failure in the schools.  When these students notice the value of their input and effort, a more internal locus of control and belief in one’s ability is fostered. Social and work skills are imbedded.

**[Since Co-operative learning also includes theories made by stalwarts like Johnson & Johnson etc. the Blogger has also cited the references and the Quotations as and when required]**

Background

Mobilelearning, also referred to as M-learning is actuallya newmethod toaccesslearningcontentusingmobiles.Mobilelearning supportswith the help of assistive  mobiledevices, continuous| access tothelearning process. Previously it was done  using deviceslikelaptop but now mobile phone has become more handy.Youare able todiscover and understandwhenever and wherever one wants. With theadventofmobilelearning, systems things have  changing rapidly.

Transformation of e-learning system Nowadays, with rapid advancements in technology, e-learning has rapidly become the new norm. E-learning was developed  to adapt to our growing web-based presence. But as that online presence itself  begins to shift to  mobile and the online learning |is actually keeping up  with the latest trends of e-learning. Mobile education, however| is actually designed especially for users who are  on the go and are not connected to a single computer/laptop. As mobile devices become the dominant one specially in COVID-19 era,  the manner in which we access the web , m-learning plays a a crucial role in the online learning sphere. M-learning is necessarily going to replace e-learning .However some contents still needs e-learning, as it may be too complicated for a mobile  platform. Instead it is likely to supplement m-learning. It will help in actually getting the entire instruction and experience. With the proper learning management system (LMS), it is not too difficult  to provide training on phones and tablets through any web based applications. Using a flexible,multipurpose and adaptive LMS opens the adaptive LMS up to a world of learning opportunities. Example of such is TcsIon which is present used as a LMS in Adamas University and in other higher education institutions as well.

M-learning in higher education institutions:

M-learning is used at present in higher education institutions. Many of the students are beginning to  use mobiles as a means of learning instead of laptops/desktops. Educational applications are becoming increasingly accessible to teachers and trainers as well

While interaction during lessons, instructors also utilizes mobile devices to enhance interaction. For instance one can ask questions during their training by making use of online discussion forums or even asking the learners to complete a survey after taking a training.
Here instant feedback is given. This is particularly effective when training and educating large groups. With synchronous learning the teacher is also in a position to get immediate feedback even when the student is at home. In addition teachers are able to interact with their students during lectures.

Benefits of mobile learning

Convenience : Enjoy a lecture at one’s own convenient time and place.Eg.Competitive examination preparation while on the go.

Motivation :   Students are motivated to find out when they can easily make use of  tablets or even other mobile devices.

Different types of content :  One can add educational videos, audio files and images with mobile learning. Videos ensure it to make learning livelier and interesting.

While we are looking on the PLUS side let us have a look at the MINUS side of M-learning.

Disadvantages of M-learning :

Distraction: Mobile devices is a distraction for participants. As a teacher or a mentor you are not always able to control what your students are actually doing on their tablets. For adults, mobile learning can be distracting when the users get constantly interrupted with text messages and notifications. Therefore it calls for self-discipline and focus on their part.

Lack of Internet connection or electricity: Using mobile devices for e-learning could be an issue if your users don’t have internet connection or electricity readily available. 

In spite of  the disadvantages the recent survey and results give us an insight that M-learning is very much relevant in the present context and specially in higher education when at present we are in a situation of  #STAY HOME#STAY SAFE#