The document outlines the principles and benefits of cooperative learning, emphasizing that it involves students working in small, mixed-ability groups to enhance both individual and collective learning. Key components include positive interdependence, face-to-face interaction, and individual accountability, with a focus on fostering social skills and improving student achievement. Teachers are encouraged to use this instructional strategy effectively by monitoring group dynamics and ensuring the tasks align with cooperative learning principles.

2. Objective
s:
Participants will:
learn the elements of
cooperative learning
Learn what is takes for
students to work successfully
in cooperative groups
Identify ways to implement
Cooperative Learning
strategies into the classroom

3. Cooperativ
e Learning
Working together
towards a common
goal

4. Discussi
on
Questio
n
Table Talk
Activity:
Think about your own
experiences with cooperative
learning as both a learner and
as a teacher.

5. What is
Cooperativ
e
Learning?
Cooperative Learning refers
to a set of instructional
methods in which students
work in small, mixed-ability
learning teams.
The students in each team
are responsible not only for
learning the material being
taught, but also for helping
their teammates learn.

6. What is
Cooperativ
e
Learning?
 Cooperative learning is the
instructional use of small
groups so that students work
together to maximize their own
and each other's learning
(Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec,
1993).
 Within cooperative learning
groups students discuss the
material to be learned with each
other, help and assist each other
to understand it, and encourage
each other to work hard.

7. What is
Cooperativ
e
Learning?
Cooperative learning
groups may be used:
Formal cooperative learning groups
– to teach specific content:
Informal cooperative learning groups
- to ensure active cognitive
processing of information
during a lecture or demonstration
Cooperative base groups
- to provide long-term
support and assistance for
academic progress

8. Benefits of
Cooperativ
e Learning
•promotes student
achievement
•Increases retention of
knowledge
•Student happiness increased
for learning experience
•develops oral communication
•deepens students' social skills
•promote student self-esteem

9. FORMAL COOPERATIVE
LEARNING
Basic Components of
Cooperative Learning
1. Positive Interdependence
(Sense of “sink or swim” together)
2. Face-to-Face Promotive interaction (Helping
each other learn, applauding efforts and success)
3. Individual and group accountability (Each of
us has to contribute to the group achieving its
goal)
4. Interpersonal and small group skills
(Communication, trust, leadership, decision
making, conflict resolution)
5. Group processing (Reflecting on how well the
team is functioning and how to function even
better)

10. Positive
Inter -
dependenc
e

11. Face-to-
Face
Promotive
interaction

12. Individual
and group
accountabili
ty

13. Interperson
al and small
group skills

14. Group
processing

16. Key
Point
# 1
Cooperative Learning is a
flexible and powerful
instructional strategy that
should be used consistently
and systematically, but is
should not be overused.

17. Key
Point
# 2
Teachers should ensure that the
tasks they assign to formal
cooperative learning groups
address the five components of
cooperative learning:
1. Positive interdependence
2. Face-to-face promotive interaction
3. Individual and group accountability
4. Interpersonal and small group skills
5. Group Processing

18. Key
Point
# 3
Teachers should use a
variety of criteria for
grouping students and
a variety of grouping
structures (i.e.,
informal, formal and
base groups).

19. Key
Point
# 4
To ensure that cooperative learning is not
misused or overused, teachers should:
 provide students with well structured
cooperative tasks
continually monitor how well students are
working in cooperative groups
what effects cooperative learning activities
are having students’ learning
 what feedback needs to be given to help
students throughout the entire process,
especially those who are not working well in
their groups.