1.) Discuss the difference between peer competition and positive interdependence in a group.

Simply said,
aren't there debates in group work?

Peer competition in a group is simply competition. Members are encouraged by competition

and enjoy the opportunity to compete with peers to determine the best project, performance
or achievement. There is no collaboration and cooperation in a group. Everyone is aiming for
good grades as they work individually while positive interdependence is the belief by each
individual that there is value in working with other students and that both individual learning
and work products will be better as a result of collaboration. They help each other aiming for
good results on reaching a common goal in a way that everyone depends each other at the
same time they work together.

2.) What can be done in case some members of the group do not show positive interpersonal and
communication skills? Can the teacher help this situation?

Yes, the teachers play a relevant role in a group, because they are the one who will decide
what to do or what are some possible actions they can do to discipline and manage those
negative attitudes that shown by the other member of the group. But if necessary before it
goes to the teacher everyone should settle the problem earlier as necessary to avoid chaos
and misunderstanding in the team. And, If there are some members of the group do not show
positive interpersonal and communication skills, teachers can do use varied learning
strategies, including group work activities that helps improve collaboration and performance
tasks to improve interpersonal and communication skills.

3.) Are skills in listening, negotiating, compromising, punctuality, tolerance ( giving others a chance to speak)
part of social skills needed in a group work?

Yes, listening, negotiating, compromising, punctuality, tolerance are considered as part of

social skills needed in a group in order to have a successful collaborative learning ambience in
the team. Each of the members of the group should have these skills so that they can
express, contribute their knowledge and ideas in proper way, and avoid any
misunderstanding. It is also easier and faster to do the work and duties if there is
collaboration between the members. Thus, through the mentioned skills, students would be
able to develop their communication strategies and interpersonal skills building a good
relationship towards each other.

4.) How can group members ensure that each member of the group is also accountable for the group work,
and not totally dependent on others? In practical terms, how can the teacher grade individual fairly in a
group activity for one single output.

To ensure that each member of the group is accountable for the task and not totally
depending on others, each group member should be given specific tasks that should be
accomplished within the given time frame. Then, each member of the group should be
properly evaluated according to their performance and enthusiasm in collaborating with the
group. In terms of grading fairly, in group tasks or performance task, the teacher should rate
their general performance and also the members should be rated individually according to the
fluency and effectiveness of their performance.

5.) While cooperative learning is a very good avenue for teachers to help students learn effectively, why is it
not so being adopted in all classroom learning?

Though cooperative learning is a very good avenue for learning in the classroom, still it is not
being used in all classroom learning situation because teachers want to implement a balance
learning where in there is an equal manifestation of learning strategies to which promote
learners becoming globally competitive students where they promote collaborative learning
and individual learning at the same time. In short, teachers do not use collaborative learning
in all classrooms learning situation because they want to train students to do learning
individually and socially. So teachers use cooperative and individual learning alternately to
maintain balance classroom learning as well as creating a meaningful learning environment.