25 de outubro de 2009

The Theory of Cooperative Freedom

The Cooperative Theory of Freedom combines the strenghs of individual learning with collaborative learning. On the one hand the flexibility and individual freedom is the most important in individual learning, on the other hand it lacks the enrichment that the exchange of experiences and discussion can provide and that can be given by cooperative learning. Furthermore it enhances the mutual help and the positive reinforcement.
In general, cooperative learning requires virtual learning environments that enable students to have freedom within individual communities (groups) of online learning.
Thus, cooperative learning is only possible through the existence of the network, and social networking tools available to stakeholders (students, teachers and intitutions),
The use of the network and its tools are important because they provide space and tools to collaborate, store and display the work done and allow to recommend, organize, add notes and approve resources that other members have created and shared.
The quality of the final work and the level of knowledge acquired by participants will tend to increase with cooperative learning. The sharing and discussion on constrution extend the knowledge of all the stakeholders.
However, in order to accept and foster cooperative learning there has to be a change of mindset. It is necessary to recognize its advantages, including the increasing of knowledge provide by sharing its construction.

24 de outubro de 2009