The purpose of the cooperative learning model is that student academic learning outcomes increase and students can accept a variety of diversity from their friends, as well as the development of social skills.
Academic learning outcomes
In cooperative learning although it covers a variety of social goals, it also increases student achievement or other important academic assignments. Some experts argue that this model is superior in helping students understand difficult concepts. The developers of this model have shown that the cooperative gift structure model has been able to increase student value in academic learning and changes in norms related to learning outcomes.
Acceptance of individual differences
Another goal of the cooperative learning model is broad acceptance of different people based on race, culture, social class, ability, and disability. Cooperative learning provides opportunities for students from various backgrounds and conditions to work with interdependence on academic assignments and through the structure of cooperative gifts will learn to respect each other.
Development of social skills
The third important goal of cooperative learning is to teach students the collaboration and collaboration skills. Social skills are important for students because currently many young people are still lacking in social skills.
Basic Principles of Cooperative Learning
According to Nur (2000), the basic principles in cooperative learning are as follows:
Each group member (student) has responsibility for everything done in the group.
Every group member (student) must know that all group members have the same goal.
Each group member (student) must share the same tasks and responsibilities among group members.
Each group member (student) will be evaluated.
Each group member (student) shares leadership and needs skills to learn together during the learning process.
Each group member (student) will be asked individually to be responsible for the material handled in the cooperative group.
The Characteristics of Cooperative Learning
The characteristics of the cooperative learning model are as follows:
Students in groups cooperatively complete learning material in accordance with the basic competencies they want to achieve.
Groups are formed from students who have different abilities, both high, medium and low ability levels. If possible group members come from various races, cultures, ethnicities and pay attention to gender equality.
Appreciation is more emphasized in groups than individuals.
In cooperative learning discussion and communication are developed with the aim that students share abilities, learn from each other to think critically, share opinions, give each other the opportunity to channel abilities, help each other learn, assess the abilities and roles of themselves and other friends.
Steps in Cooperative Learning
There are six steps in the cooperative learning model.
Conveying goals and motivating students. The teacher conveys the learning objectives and communicates the basic competencies to be achieved and motivates students.
Presentation of information. The teacher provides information to students.
Organize students into study groups. The teacher tells the grouping of students.
Guiding study groups. The teacher motivates and facilitates student work in group study groups.
Evaluation. The teacher evaluates learning outcomes about the learning material that has been applied.
Give an award. The teacher appreciates individual and group learning outcomes.