Cooperative learning and teamwork at school and at work

Abstract

„A basic premise of education is that learners acquire skills that they can use to their advantage in their work, family and other areas” (Rakaczkiné, Gombos and Nagy, 2009. p. 20.). Today’s and tomorrow’s workplaces are trying to respond quickly and adequately to the increasing number and speed of challenges, and one of the relevant responses is to transform the organisational paradigm and make it more efficient. An agile approach, a pro-active attitude, the creation of teams and working groups are now widespread, with collaboration and teamwork at their core. The latter cannot be experienced and practised alone or within the traditional framework of educational organisation, and frontal classroom work does not provide the opportunity. As part of the new, more modern pedagogical paradigm, however, the use of cooperative learning organisation is designed to develop the soft skills and social competences that are essential for cooperation and individual and group performance. Experiencing cooperative learning organisation firsthand and incorporating it into the students’ methodological toolbox can ensure successful progress in school, social and workplace performance.