COOPERATIVE LEARNING

Proponents: D. Johnson &  R. Johnson; R. Slavin; S. Kagan

Three Classroom Structures

1. Competitive—a step ahead
2. Individualistic—walking alone
3. Cooperative—in step together

All three structures are effective

1. While Competitive and Individualistic structures may be judiciously used, Cooperative structure may be more profusely used in our classrooms.
2. But a teacher needs to deeply understand CL to make it as effective a tool as possible.

What is Cooperative Learning?

Cooperative learning refers to those teaching strategies which help teachers provide information and skills to students using small groups (2-6). 

Research-based Benefits of Cooperative Learning:
 

1. Higher achievement
2. Increased retention
3. Greater use of higher level thinking
4. Greater intrinsic motivation

1. Better attitude
   1. Teachers
   2. Subject matter
   3. School
2. More on-task behavior
3. Greater collaborative skills

Five Elements or Characteristics of CL

1. Positive Interdependence
2. Individual Accountability
3. Group Processing
4. Social Skills
5. Face to Face Interaction

Positive Interdependence

1. The group must work together—no chauffeurs or hitch-hikers
2. The group shares a common goal
3. Ways to achieve
   1. Assign roles
   2. Use limited materials

Individual Accountability

1. Each one is responsible for what is done and learned
2. Ways to achieve
   1. Random questioning
   2. Quiz

Group Processing

1. Members assess their own effectiveness
   1. Academic
   2. Social
2. Teacher observes and notes

Social Skills

1. Human relation skill are part of the CL interactions
2. Examples of social skills
   1. Taking turns
   2. Disagreeing in agreeable ways
   3. Reaching consensus
3. Use a T-chart to teach social skills

Face to Face Interaction

1. Seating arrangement–circular
2. Proximity
3. Shared materials

Ways to Group

1. Random—use color-coded stickers, balloons; numbering off, etc.
2. Heterogeneous—form groups with a good mix of high, low and average achievers
3. Sociometrically—use the sociometric procedure

Some CL Structures

1. Think-Pair-Share
2. Think-Pair-Square
3. Think-Square-Share

1. Rally Table
2. Round Robin
3. Numbered Heads Together

Some Major CL Strategies

1. Jigsaw
   1. Basic Jigsaw
   2. Group Jigsaw
   3. Expert Jigsaw
2. Graffiti