Cooperative Learning In The Classroom

The book is addressed to classroom teachers interested in beginning to use cooperative learning or increasing the quality of their current efforts.

Cooperative learning is widely endorsed as a pedagogical practice that promotes student learning. Recently, the research focus has moved to the role of teachers’ discourse during cooperative learning and its effects on the quality of group discussions and the learning achieved. However, although the benefits of cooperative learning are well documented, implementing this pedagogical practice in classrooms is a challenge that many teachers have difficulties accomplishing. Difficulties may occur because teachers often do not have a clear understanding of the basic tenets of cooperative learning and the research and theoretical perspectives that have informed this practice and how they translate into practical applications that can be used in their classrooms. In effect, what do teachers need to do to affect the benefits widely documented in research? A reluctance to embrace cooperative learning may also be due to the challenge it poses to teachers’ control of the learning process, the demands it places on classroom organisational changes, and the personal commitments teachers need to make to sustain their efforts. Moreover, a lack of understanding of the key role teachers need to play in embedding cooperative learning into the curricula to foster open communication and engagement among teachers and students, promote cooperative investigation and problem-solving, and provide students with emotionally and intellectually stimulating learning environments may be another contributing factor. The Teacher's Role in Implementing Cooperative Learning in the Classroom provides readers with a comprehensive overview of these issues with clear guidelines on how teachers can embed cooperative learning into their classroom curricula to obtain the benefits widely attributed to this pedagogical practice. It does so by using language that is appropriate for both novice and experienced educators. The volume provides: an overview of the major research and theoretical perspectives that underpin the development of cooperative learning pedagogy; outlines how specific small group experiences can promote thinking and learning; discusses the key role teachers play in promoting student discourse; and, demonstrates how interaction style among students and teachers is crucial in facilitating discussion and learning. The collection of chapters includes many practical illustrations, drawn from the contributors’ own research of how teachers can use cooperative learning pedagogy to facilitate thinking and learning among students across different educational settings.

′What is cooperative learning? Why should teachers use it in the classroom? What are the benefits? In eight accessible chapters, Wendy Jolliffe, lecturer in primary education at Hull University, outlines the theory and practice of cooperative learning and shows how the "outcomes and aims of Every Child Matters (2004) can be clearly mapped to the advantages of cooperative learning."... A useful resource for teachers, headteachers, trainee teachers and support staff′ - Learning and Teaching Update Cooperative Learning is about structuring lesson activities to encourage pupils to work collaboratively in pairs or small groups to support each other to improve their learning. This inclusive approach to teaching is very much in tune with current initiatives such as Every Child Matters and Excellence and Enjoyment and the focus on learning styles. This book is an accessible guide to implementing cooperative learning in the classroom. It includes: " an explanation of the key factors that make cooperative learning work " a step-by-step approach to implementing cooperative learning in the classroom " advice on how to measure the effectiveness of cooperative learning " guidance for using cooperative learning to encourage effective talk " links to supporting children′s emotional intelligence " ideas for practical activities " an action plan and programme for whole school professional development The book is an invaluable resource for individual teachers using cooperative learning techniques in classrooms, this book will also be of interest to headteachers, trainee teachers and learning support staff.

"Gilles focuses the majority of the book on the relationship in the classroom between the individual teacher and the students. She gives teachers ammunition to overcome resistance to cooperative learning by presenting well-substantiated research on virtually every page of her book showing the benefits of having students study together." —Ted Wohlfarth, PSYCCRITIQUES "This text′s greatest strengths are bringing together a range of powerful teaching strategies connected to students taking responsibility for their own learning and the learning of others. The focus on both teacher strategies to encourage effective group talk and student strategies to encourage effective discourse is helpful." —Nancy L. Markowitz, San Jose State University Although cooperative learning is widely endorsed as a pedagogical practice that promotes learning and socialization among students, teachers still struggle with how to introduce it into their classrooms. This text highlights the strategies teachers can use to challenge student thinking and scaffold their learning as well as the strategies students can be taught to promote discourse, problem—solving, and learning during cooperative learning. Key Features Presents cooperative learning in conjunction with national standards: The book situates cooperative learning within the context of No Child Left Behind and a climate of high stakes testing. Links theory with practice: Numerous case studies and small group exercises highlight how teachers can assess both the process and outcomes of cooperative learning. Emphasizes the key role teachers play in establishing cooperative learning: Guidelines are given on how teachers can establish cooperative learning in their classrooms to promote student engagement and learning across various levels and for students of diverse abilities. Incorporates the latest research on cooperative learning: An overview is provided of the major research and theoretical perspectives that underpin the development of cooperative learning pedagogy. Intended Audience This is an excellent supplementary text for several undergraduate and graduate level K—12 teacher preparation and certification courses regularly offered in schools of education. It can also be used as one of several texts in courses on cooperative learning and as a supplement in K—12 teaching methods courses.

Motivate your students and create an engaging classroom environment with the time-tested strategies in this book. Drawing on over 35 years of experience, author and consultant John D. Strebe offers a wealth of advice for teachers who want to encourage collaboration and team learning among students of all grade levels. This expanded second edition includes activities and examples across the subject areas, as well as new reproducible tools for classroom use. Topics include... Building enthusiasm and increasing student development with games, mini competitions, and team projects. Implementing new seating arrangements that promote discussion and participation. Keeping students engaged during lectures and presentations. Facilitating group work by organizing students into teams based on academic skills and personal traits. And more! John D. Strebe taught secondary mathematics for 38 years in the Maryland public schools. He conducts workshops for teachers across the country, providing instruction on setting up a cooperative and engaging classroom.

This book reviews the basics of cooperative learning and provides guidance to educators and administrators on adapting curricula and implementing methods such as multilevel instruction.

Research has identified cooperative learning as one of the ten High Impact Practices that improve student learning. If you’ve been interested in cooperative learning, but wondered how it would work in your discipline, this book provides the necessary theory, and a wide range of concrete examples.Experienced users of cooperative learning demonstrate how they use it in settings as varied as a developmental mathematics course at a community college, and graduate courses in history and the sciences, and how it works in small and large classes, as well as in hybrid and online environments. The authors describe the application of cooperative learning in biology, economics, educational psychology, financial accounting, general chemistry, and literature at remedial, introductory, and graduate levels.The chapters showcase cooperative learning in action, at the same time introducing the reader to major principles such as individual accountability, positive interdependence, heterogeneous teams, group processing, and social or leadership skills.The authors build upon, and cross-reference, each others’ chapters, describing particular methods and activities in detail. They explain how and why they may differ about specific practices while exemplifying reflective approaches to teaching that never fail to address important assessment issues.

Interaction in Cooperative Groups brings together related research from education, developmental psychology, and social psychology in an approach that is both integrative and analytical. Its intent is to provide an understanding of the dynamics of underlying processes that are fundamental to group interaction and its outcomes. The editors have pulled together an impressive array of researchers from diverse areas within psychology and education. Many of the most exciting and currently visible research programmes are represented. This volume is a valuable resource for the professional community and will serve to initiate a long overdue unification of distinct, yet conceptually similar, areas of research.