SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN ONLINE COOPERATIVE LEARNING

Cooperative/collaborative learning (CL) is not a new concept. But it took on new meaning and content during the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtually all university education was shifted online. There are some key meanings of CL - collaborative learning strategy, peer instructive learning and learning in small groups etc. Now CL solves not only the problem of training students' hard skills in group work. It resolves a very important task of developing soft skills, primarily digital competences, communication skills, group interaction and decision-making, solving complex educational problems in group work, critical, creative and reflective thinking, self-motivation, responsibility and self-organization. To create projects, students need to master digital programs that allow them to unite in groups, visualize ideas and solutions, etc. As part of this work, students also teach each other to use new computer technologies. Recently lecturers and students began practicing peer-to-peer learning which successfully solves the issues of involving students with different levels of academic performance in the educational process, increasing learning motivation and interest in the independent organization of their educational work with the help of older students or groupmates. We have developed a questionnaire to identify students' opinions on CL online. N=400. The results of the survey led to the following conclusions about the benefits of cooperative learning for soft skills development: students receive more time for individualized learning; direct interaction between students promotes active learning; students feel more comfortable and open when interacting with peers in small groups; working in a group using online technologies fosters a sense of belongingness, even in distance learning; students share a similar discourse, allowing for greater understanding. Research also indicates that CL activities typically promotes team-building spirit and more supportive relationships; greater psychological well-being, social competence, communication skills and self-esteem; higher achievement and greater productivity in terms of enhanced learning outcomes.