Cooperative, not competitive, education shows best results

[GeneCosta]

Something parents, teachers, lobbyists, and school board officials should take into consideration when they talk about school reform:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080327172216.htm

Students competing for resources in the classroom while discounting each others' success are less likely to earn top grades than students who work together toward goals and share their success, according to an analysis of 80 years of research.

The researchers examined 148 studies that compared the effects of cooperative, competitive and individualistic goals on early achievement and peer relationships among 12- to 15-year-olds. The studies included more than 17,000 adolescents from 11 countries and used four multinational samples. No one was excluded from the analysis because of gender, nationality, or academic or physical ability.

According to the studies, adolescents in classrooms that supported cooperative learning -- studying together to complete a project or prepare for an exam -- got along better with their peers, were more accurate on academic tests and achieved higher scores on problem-solving, reasoning and critical thinking tasks compared to adolescents who were in classrooms geared toward competitive learning -- studying alone knowing that success would mean only one winner and plenty of losers.

From past experiences, I remember doing better in classes where there was collaboration between peers. An individual feels compelled to contribute and show of his own knowledge; otherwise, he (or she) is met with scorn or ostracism. A few slackers still got by, but their net contributions didn't seem less than how they performed in different classes. One of my favorite classes from high school - literary magazine - demanded cooperation. It was quite unorthodox, and many different literary programs had more demanding work loads, but we still were first in the state. :wink:

Apparently this study also broke "competitive" into two categories: literal competition (a few winners, many losers - class rank) and individualistic (theoretically a possibility for all to be winners, just a competitive environment - state tests). No significant differences between these two sub-categories.

No differences were found between students who were in either competitive or individualistic environments on achievement measures or peer relationships.

[Kerrytravelers]

1. This looks to be very interesting. I haven't the time to read it all carefully now, but I'll K&R and

bookmark for later.

Thanks!

kt

[imdjh]

2. We're doing virtual school

And we'll be done for the year, almost two months before public school let's out. That's with only four hours a day of class, with no homework, and with lots of other activities.

[LWolf]

3. Another point which should be obvious,

and which our federal and state officials and politicians continue to ignore while they chase after competition as the "american way."

In reality, some students work better cooperatively and some independently. It's the absence of competition, the environment of collaboration for the success of all, that makes the difference.

And not just among students. Among teachers, as well.

Which is why the Obama/Duncan merit pay bandwagon is a public ed train wreck we can see on the horizon.

[IrateCitizen]

4. "Ultimately, people want to be engaged in cooperative doings with others."

John Dewey is the author of that quote. This study states nothing that educational theorists and educators haven't proposed for years.

The problem is that cooperation and portfolio-based assessment don't provide the same hard "metrics" as competition and quantitative assessment.

[joeglow3]

5. I still don't like it

Our school was most definately cooperative. I was a huge discipline case and was constantly in trouble. One semester in the 5th grade, they went to a individual study program. For the first time in my education career, I was never in trouble. I was doing great in school and was shooting ahead (especially in math). Well, after a number of parents complained, they went back to the old way. I was literally forced in front an computer (Apple 2E days) for a couple weeks while the rest of the class caught up.

The fact is that there is no perfect situation. The larger school districts need to offer different teaching methods (even at different schools) and identify which students belong where.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Most kids do better in cooperative groups

Of course there are always exceptions. Maybe a balance between cooperative learning and individual study is the answer. But, IMO, we do too much individual study in our schools. Kids need to learn to work with their peers. That is an important life skill.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. And we have known this for years

I remember doing a research paper on this topic back in the 70s when I was an education major.

Alfie Kohn bases his work on this. He is one of my heroes. http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.html