WHAT IS IT?

Cooperative learning is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject. Each member of a team is responsible not only for learning what is taught but also for helping teammates learn, thus creating an atmosphere of achievement.

WHY — USE IT?

Documented results include improved academic achievement, improved behavior and attendance, increased self-confidence and motivation, and increased liking of school and classmates. Cooperative learning is also relatively easy to implement and is inexpensive.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Here are some typical strategies that can be used with any subject, in almost any grade, and without a special curriculum:

  • GROUP INVESTIGATIONS are structured to emphasize higher-order thinking skills such as analysis and evaluation. Students work to produce a group project, which they may have a hand in selecting.
  • STAD (Student Teams-Achievement Divisions) is used in grades 2-12. Students with varying academic abilities are assigned to 4- or 5-member teams in order to study what the teacher has initially taught and to help each reach his or her highest level of achievement. Students are then tested individually. Teams earn certificates or other recognition based on the degree to which all team members have progressed over their past records.
  • JIGSAW II is used with narrative material in grades 3-12. Each team member is responsible for learning a specific part of a topic. After meeting with members of other groups, who are “expert” in the same part, the “experts” return to their own groups and present their findings. Team members then are quizzed on all topics.

The benefits of cooperative learning include:

  • Improvements in academic achievement
  • Increased self-confidence and motivation
  • Improved critical thinking skills
  • Increased enthusiasm about school
  • Greater teamwork among students
  • Lower absenteeism

A resource for cooperative learning and inclusion:

Cooperative Learning and Strategies for Inclusion: Celebrating Diversity in the Classroom. 2nd ed. Edited by JoAnne W. Putnam, Ph.D. Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing Co., 1998. ISBN 1-55766-346-7.

This 288-page book is intended to help educators meet the needs of children with varying cognitive abilities, developmental and learning disabilities, sensory impairments, and different cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It is based on the premise that children of differing abilities and backgrounds will benefit both academically and socially from cooperative learning. Available at http://www.brookespublishing.com.