Cooperative Learning

Cooperative learning is an instructional method that engages students in active learning by providing the opportunity for students to collaborate on a task with a common goal. This approach requires that students divide into small groups to solve problems, complete tasks, and enhance understanding of content. Classrooms using cooperative learning are socially and academically collaborative rather than individualized and teacher directed. As a direct result, this places emphasis on student and teacher learning. This entry defines cooperative learning, discusses the cognitive and social theoretical bases for this method of instruction, describes some practical applications of cooperative learning, and provides examples of cooperative learning exercises.

Cooperative learning is a more formalized and structured method of learning than the traditional group learning. The basis of cooperative learning is ...