ABSTRACT
During lessons that use cooperative learning students work together in groups to help each other learn content and skills. Cooperation requires students to accomplish shared goals. During cooperative learning activities, students work to complete tasks that help them learn individually, and that help group members learn as well. In short, cooperative learning places students in groups to maximize their learning. In the process, students learn to use critical social skills. Cooperative learning groups typically range from three to seven students, with the ideal number being four or ve. Keeping the size of the groups small encourages students to work together and to more actively participate. In this chapter we will help you understand the difference between cooperative group learning and conventional group projects. Many of the instructional strategies mentioned in section 2 of this book could employ cooperative learning groups. Cooperative learning, therefore, is an instructional strategy that involves placing students into groups, and helping them work together to complete a given task.
