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An overview of cooperative learning and some resources for finding online cooperative learning activities and lesson plans to try in your classroom.
Cooperative learning is becoming an increasingly
popular teaching
strategy. Recently, Spencer
Kagan has been providing training for teachers, and Johnson
& Johnson have been advocating the same types of strategies
for years. It may be popular, but is it good for kids? From personal
experience, I have found many benefits to using cooperative learning
in the classroom, and it can easily be integrated into whatever
you're doing at any grade level.
Why Use Cooperative Learning?
T hrough active participation and more on-task behavior, your students will benefit
from higher academic achievement for all. Other benefits include improved social
skills, higher self esteem, greater use of higher-level thinking skills, and increased
appreciation for different points of view.
Getting Started - Cooperative Learning Basics
An important point to remember is that cooperative learning is not just "group
work." Not only can students learn together in producing group projects,
it can be used as an integral part of the classroom management plan, and at every
stage of your lessons.
In order to produce the desired benefits, there are several things which must
be in place: - The seating arrangement supports Heterogeneous groups of four, or two pairs
of students. Forming Value
Lines is one method to achieve a heterogeneous group.
- Students know expectations
for cooperative learning. Set the climate, by preparing students and providing
teambuilding and icebreaker activities.
- While engaged in cooperative learning activities, each student holds
a job for which he/she will be later held accountable.
- Tasks within the group are shared equally, and by all group members.
Cooperative Learning Activities & Lessons Now try it! The best way to start cooperative learning is to experiment with
it in your own classroom. I have found many sources on the web that provide
sample lessons & activities. The great thing about most of these suggestions
is that they can be modified to fit almost any topic or grade level. Have fun!
The Reference Book:
Cooperative Learning Activities
Find activity directions written by a teacher who has several books published by Kagan Cooperative Learning. Cooperative Learning
Activities K-5
This site contains great examples of cooperative learning activities
for specific subject areas & topics. You can browse by grade
level & subject area. If you are a Missouri teacher, you'll
be interested to see them tied to Show-Me
Standards. Cooperative
Learning
Includes rationale for cooperative learning and outlines
several activities for teambuilding, discussion, brainstorming,
and review. | 
