Spencer Kagan And Structured Cooperative Work

Spencer Kagan is a renowned author who has conducted multiple research on structured cooperative work. This form of teamwork is far from the way in which knowledge is transmitted in the vast majority of schools and institutes today. In fact, it is a novel way of learning in a group, while developing skills necessary for personal growth.

After his investigations, Kagan came to make a proposal on what is known as structured cooperative work. This organized the cooperative method in a much more flexible and efficient way. In addition, it would allow you to work with complex and generic topics in a dynamic way. In an article written by the author himself in Kagan Online Magazine,  he explains that the reason he chose the word “structures” is because they are like games that are easy to learn and play. Let’s go deeper.

The principles of structured cooperative work

When Spencer Kagan designed the structures of his cooperative learning proposal, he thought  of 4 basic principles  that we must bear in mind if we want to put it into practice. In fact, they are fundamental elements of this type of learning.

• Positive interdependence : it is achieved by fulfilling the responsibility to carry out the assigned task individually. In addition, you have to agree with the group on the responses and strategies to achieve a certain goal.
• Individual responsibility : what one of the group participants does will have a positive or negative impact on the others. Each of the members is responsible for carrying out his task for the good of the others.

• Equitable participation : all members of the group should have the opportunity to participate on an equal basis. In addition, the work must be correctly distributed so that one member does not have more than the others.
• Simultaneous interaction : all team participants must dialogue, share their opinions and make decisions together. If there is not this, the group may dissolve and not reach the proposed goal.

Thus, structured cooperative work allows:

• Develop teamwork skills.
• Improve problem solving.
• Improve the ability to defend a certain point of view.
• Learn to listen to others and respect their ideas, as well as express your own.

The advantages of Kagan structures

Kagan structures allow to put into practice certain games that work with a series of specific principles and that have a clear purpose in the classroom. Each of these can be applied to classes like math or language arts, which is great for introducing cooperative work even in subjects where it may be unthinkable. Some of the names of the Kagan structures have such curious names as “the revolving sheet” or “the pairs argue”.

Something very important that structured cooperative work teaches us is that it allows us to teach different students. In the standard education that we can all see in schools and institutes, an educational strategy oriented to only one type of students is used. But what about those who are more creative? Or for those who memorize concepts to “vomit” later in an exam is impossible? Spencer Kagan structures are a great solution that allow for much better learning.

The need for the implementation of structured cooperative work

Teachers may think that developing a class based on structured cooperative learning can be more tedious. However, it actually takes a lot less setup work and the results are more effective. Although in many centers there is a certain way of proceeding, it would be important to introduce some of the Kagan structures, to verify the great results they give.

The education that we can consider “traditional” favors boredom in the classroom, that the students ask themselves “what is the use of studying this? ”And encourages unhealthy competitiveness.

In addition, being the best in the class by memorizing the syllabus to capture the teacher’s attention does not allow the development of the skills contained in the Kagan structures. Very important skills for the future of all these young people that will allow them to have healthy relationships and develop their work much better.