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Cooperative Learning

Cooperative Learning is one of the best researched of all teaching strategies. The results show that students who have opportunities to work collaboratively, learn faster and more efficiently, have greater retention, and feel more positive about the learning experience. Needless to say, this is not to say that students can just be put into a group and assigned a project to complete. There are very specific methods to assure the success of group work, and it is essential that both teachers and students are aware of them.

Learning can be structured competitively, so that students work against each other; individually, so that students work alone; or cooperatively, so that students work together to accomplish shared learning goals. David W. and Roger R. Johnson, professors, and co-directors of the Cooperative Learning Center at the University of Minnesota, recommend that, while all three structures should be used, cooperation should play a significant role in any classroom.

Cooperative learning involves a great deal more than just placing your students into groups and rearranging the seating. Cooperative learning is actually a part of classroom management. A "culture" of group work needs to be developed that includes expectations regarding group dynamics, an atmosphere of trust, absence of "put-downs," equal participation, willingness to help one another, appropriate noise level, consensus building, rules for brainstorming, effective partnering practices, transitions, and group roles. The results are a very productive learning environment that can be a lot of fun for everyone.

Advantages of Working in Cooperative Groups

  • The facilitator distributes and collects materials for the group. Instead of dealing with 28 students, you deal with 7 group facilitators. This saves a lot of time and energy
  • Working in groups requires less total materials, resources and manipulatives, which save on the classroom and building budget
  • Having reduced sets of materials and manipulatives in group settings reduces the time needed to set up and put things away at the end of an activity
  • Cooperative learning groups provides an avenue for peers to teach peers. We know from research that this active strategy increases student retention of concepts, ideas and knowledge
  • Recent research suggests that effective cooperative learning leads to increased student achievement, critical and creative thinking, positive group interaction and social skills, and positive self-esteem and mutual respect
  • Questions are more likely to be asked and answered in a group setting. This saves a lot of time over a long question-and-answer session with the entire class. Struggling students get the support they need by multiple resources, they hear the answer from a peer in their own language, and advanced students don’t get bored because they are actively involved in the teaching process. Shy students are more likely to take risks in this kind of controlled environment rather than in a large classroom setting
  • Cooperative learning strategies in the classroom provide variation from direct instruction to group directed activities for students. This can be used as an effective way to manage a classroom and address the current research about student attention spans
  • Today's job market is looking for people with good communication skills and problem-solving strategies. Regular participation in cooperative learning activities can help develop and hone these skills
  • Cooperative learning establishes conditions where students must succeed as a team. The criteria for success are defined so students encourage teammates to excel and to assist each other if necessary
  • Students are more motivated to learn at higher levels when involved in cooperative learning groups
  • Students are encouraged to learn material in greater depth and to think of creative ways to convince me that they have mastered the required material

Use the links below to find out more information about cooperative learning and strategies to effectively use cooperative learning in the classroom.