What Is Cooperative Learning?

What Is Cooperative Learning?

At its core, cooperative learning is an instructional approach where students work together in small groups to achieve shared academic goals. In this model, the success of the group depends on the success of each individual member, creating a supportive learning environment where everyone is accountable. This structure means students are not just working alongside each other, but are actively helping and sharing resources to ensure everyone understands the material. It's a powerful way to build both academic understanding and essential social skills like communication and teamwork.

Cooperative Learning Strategies and Activities

Cooperative learning strategies provide a framework for structuring group work in your classroom. These strategies are put into practice through specific activities designed to guide student collaboration toward a learning objective.

These approaches involve organizing students into small teams where each member is responsible for their own learning and that of their teammates. The activities can range from brief, informal discussions to more extensive group projects, all structured to promote interaction and accountability.

Here are some cooperative learning strategies and activities:

• Jigsaw Method: A topic is divided into segments, and each student becomes an expert on one segment before teaching it to their group.
• Think-Write-Pair-Share: Students first think and write about a question individually, then discuss their thoughts with a partner before sharing with the larger class.
• Numbered Heads Together: Each student in a group is assigned a number, the group discusses a question together, and a randomly selected number determines which student will share the group's answer.
• STAD (Student Teams–Achievement Divisions): Students work in mixed-ability teams to master content and then take individual quizzes, with scores contributing to the team's performance.
• Round Robin Brainstorming: Group members take turns sharing ideas in a sequence, which allows for equal participation from all students.
• Reciprocal Teaching: Students take on teaching roles within their group, such as summarizer, questioner, clarifier, and predictor, to guide their peers through a text or concept.
• Formal Cooperative Learning: Groups work together for one or more class periods to complete a specific assignment, such as a project or report.
• Informal Cooperative Learning: Temporary groups are formed for a few minutes during a lesson to discuss a question or summarize information.
• Cooperative Base Groups: Long-term, stable groups meet regularly throughout a semester or year to provide consistent academic and personal support.
• Mixed Skills Grouping: Students with different ability levels are intentionally placed in the same group to work on a task together.

Cooperative Learning Benefits

When structured correctly, cooperative learning can produce a range of outcomes for students. These effects span academic performance, social development, and personal well-being. This approach influences how students interact with each other and the subject matter.

On a high level, this method is associated with gains in academic achievement and the development of interpersonal skills. However, its effectiveness is dependent on careful implementation, as challenges like unequal student participation and the need for structured guidance can arise.

Here are some of the outcomes associated with cooperative learning:

• Higher-Level Reasoning: Students use more advanced reasoning strategies and generate new ideas and solutions.
• Social Skill Development: Students learn and practice communication, leadership, conflict management, and trust-building.
• Increased Engagement: Students often spend more time on task and show more positive attitudes toward learning activities.
• Improved Relationships: The method fosters positive interpersonal connections, social support, and a sense of community among students.
• Greater Accountability: Students develop personal responsibility for their own learning and for supporting their teammates.
• Academic Risk-Taking: A supportive group environment can reduce student fears, making them more willing to offer suggestions and ask questions.
• Student Self-Confidence: Taking on group roles and contributing to shared goals can help build students' confidence in their abilities.
• Decision-Making Skills: Group discussions and planning activities provide opportunities for students to practice and improve their decision-making abilities.
• Psychological Well-being: Cooperative experiences are linked to better psychological health, including reduced anxiety and frustration.
• Student Independence: Groups learn to rely on each other for guidance and feedback, which can reduce their dependence on the teacher.

Cooperative Learning Examples

Cooperative learning can be applied through a variety of structured activities in the classroom. These methods provide different ways to organize students into groups to work on specific learning tasks.

Implementing this approach requires careful planning to address certain considerations. For instance, you must structure activities to promote individual accountability and guide students in developing the interpersonal skills needed for effective teamwork.

Here are some examples of cooperative learning in practice:

• Jigsaw Method: A larger topic is broken into smaller parts, with each student in a group researching one part and then teaching it to their teammates.
• STAD (Student Teams–Achievement Divisions): Students in mixed-ability teams work to master academic material and then take individual quizzes, where their scores contribute to a team total.
• Round Robin Brainstorming: In a circular format, group members take turns sharing one idea at a time without immediate critique from others.
• Numbered Heads Together: Students in a group are assigned numbers and work together to find an answer, with one randomly selected student reporting for the group.
• Think-Write-Pair-Share: An activity where students first reflect and write down their thoughts, discuss them with a partner, and then share with the class.

Cooperative Learning Best Practices

Cooperative learning best practices are structured methods for organizing group activities in the classroom. These frameworks guide how students interact, work together on tasks, and hold each other accountable for the learning outcomes.

Implementing these practices involves making pre-instructional decisions about group composition, roles, and materials. You then explain the task and cooperative structure to students, monitor group work, and assess both academic learning and group functioning.

Here are some cooperative learning best practices:

• Formal Cooperative Learning: Students work in groups for one or more class periods to complete a specific task or assignment.
• Informal Cooperative Learning: Temporary, ad-hoc groups are formed for short durations, often to discuss a concept during a lesson.
• Cooperative Base Groups: Long-term, stable groups meet regularly to provide ongoing academic and personal support to members.
• Jigsaw Method: A topic is divided into segments, with each group member becoming an expert on one part and then teaching it to the rest of their group.
• STAD (Student Teams–Achievement Divisions): Mixed-ability teams work together to master content, followed by individual quizzes where scores contribute to the team's overall performance.

Teach with TeachShare

Cooperative learning effectively structures group work so students can maximize their own and each other's learning, fostering higher achievement and positive classroom relationships. Start creating resources with TeachShare now to bring these powerful strategies into your classroom.