Training on Cooperative Learning Methods

Caucasus International University actively continues to promote the development of the educational process and the professional growth of academic staff. To this end, the university held a training on cooperative learning methods and strategies. The meeting was led by Tamar Panchulidze, an expert on the implementation and development of the third generation national curriculum.

The event highlighted the fact that cooperative learning is the most modern form of education, which lecturers and teachers are increasingly actively integrating into the learning process. This approach is focused on group and partnership work, which requires students to engage in synchronous or asynchronous, coordinated and constructive activity to jointly solve the problems set and achieve a common goal.

The expert introduced the main principles of cooperative learning to the training participants in detail: positive interdependence, which implies unity around a common goal; Individual responsibility, where each team member contributes to the common task; Facilitation of face-to-face interaction; Development of social and collaborative skills; Evaluation of the group process, which is based on self-reflection mechanisms.

After the theoretical part, the discussion continued in a practical context: how should lecturers transfer these approaches directly to the classroom? In this context, specific strategies were discussed, such as: the interactive method “Think, Pair, Share”, “Brainstorming” (the so-called Jigsaw method) and the correct distribution of roles in the team. The segmental method was also highlighted, which involves dividing the learning material into parts and its gradual assimilation by students.

One of the sections of the training was devoted to effective management and assessment criteria for group work, where practical cases and digital tools from leading universities in the world were shared with the participants. In particular, a research method approved by Harvard University was reviewed, which confirms that the most effective in group work is the so-called progressive assessment. Also, the approach of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where a team agreement document is actively used during group projects. Based on the practice of European universities, the importance of a three-component assessment matrix was emphasized; according to the international standard, the assessment should be three-dimensional so that it is objectively and fairly reflected in the final grade of each student.

The meeting was held in an interactive mode, with questions and answers and active discussion. The training was organized by the Personnel Management Service / Life-LongLearning and Career Development Service of Caucasus International University.