Cooperative learning is an instructional strategy where students work together in groups to discuss ideas, complete tasks, and projects. It involves students helping each other, working as a team, and being held accountable for their contributions. The strategy has benefits like allowing students with different abilities to learn from each other, but can be ineffective if overused or results in large groups. Teachers can implement it by having students solve problems or research topics in groups.

1. COOPERATIVE LEARNING
AN INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY
BY SHERRY SCHAEFER-ROJAS

2. DEFINITION
Cooperative learning
is a strategy used to
enhance student
learning by having
students work
together to discuss
ideas, complete tasks
and/or projects.

3. IT LOOKS & SOUNDS LIKE...
Students discussing ideas
Listening
Helping each other
Working as a team
Students sitting next to one another

4. KEY ELEMENTS
Students must work as a team
Students must be held accountable
Students should be provided with time for reflection

5. PROS
Students with different ability levels can be grouped
together
Groups can be used over a long period of time
Cooperative grouping can be used throughout content
areas

6. CONS
Large groups can make learning challenging
Overuse of strategy makes it ineffective
Potential grouping of members according to one
ability

7. HOW CAN I USE THIS
STRATEGY?
Students can work together to solve a word problem
to come up with multiple ways to solve one problem.
Have a group research a topic and create a
newspaper relating to the topic, possibly assign roles
to the group members.

8. RECAP
Cooperative Learning is a useful instructional strategy
It can be used in different subjects
Students work with peers to learn, and each student
brings their own unique set of strengths