The advantages and disadvantages of cooperative learning (by Nancy)

We can never imagine what a wonder cooperation could be in helping one to accomplish tasks. In cooperative learning, people from various backgrounds rallying together, like a small society, to share or exchange their opinions. In this atmosphere, a marvelous achievement is always worthy to be expected. However, no matter how fantastic cooperative learning could be, we can not ignore the negative effects it could bring to us.
Cooperative learning is like a magic trick, turning an ordinary, plain work into a masterpiece. Related to its advantages, many of them are worth discussing. It is known that creativity would be the one achieved the most in working cooperatively. Via everyone’s ingenuity, the work could even reach to its supremacy. Moreover, the experiences of interacting and socializing with partners deserve our paying efforts. During the processes of negotiating with every participant, we could learn to respect and appreciate different opinions. Last but not least, cooperative learning provides us chances of self-examination. Through constantly comparing others’ valuable thoughts with ours, we could do the work of self-learning as well. Gradually, obvious improvements would remain to be seen.
Though so many merits of cooperative learning are acknowledged, some drawbacks exist. First of all, it can not be denied that cooperative learning is very time-consuming. Different peope have various ideas, hence, reaching an agreement or consensus becomes a difficult job. Imagine we are well-scheduled with numeruos works awaited; however, most of our precious time should be spent on arranging meetings and group discussing. We probably might get mad at inability to accomplish our plans as expected. Furthermore, in cooperative learning, job assignment becomes another controversial issue. The unfairness of duty attirbuted sometimes will result in arguements. In addition to quarrels caused by duty assignment, conflicts might often happen in cooperative learning. Divergent views coming from different members is the key to arouse the struggles. Therefore, the ability and wisdom of coordination thus becomes an important issue to be acquired.
The advantages of cooperative learning are known to everyone; nonetheless, hardly do we know its shortcomings. It is every member's responsibility to face the challenges together. All in all, only if we make efforts to conquer the hinders could we benefit the most from learning.