Cooperative Learning and Social Climate: A Study with 5th graders

Abstract

This study proposes Cooperative Learning to increase the positive social climate between peers at San Jose de Castilla school in Bogota since their peer relationships affect pupils' mental and physical health and their educational process and personal lives. This research study seeks to analyze if and how Cooperative Learning (CL) shapes negative interactions into positive peer relationships. Also, it looks into their perceptions of other classmates and how their peer relationships worked before and after the intervention. The study uses collaborative action research implementing CL in a fifth grade. The literature on CL coincides in that approach increases constructive relationships and decreases prejudices pupils might have about their peers. The findings were that the partners reduced resistant attitudes, but the peer relationships might improve after a more extended period implementing CL. Thus, we expected a higher level of confidence among one another.