Cooperative Learning, NOT Group Work, is the Key to a Successful Future

Cooperative Learning, NOT Group Work, is the Key to a Successful Future

Teachers learn a variety of different skills and strategies throughout their college education. Once employed,
teachers hone their skills by finding out what really works in the classroom for them. Many teachers also
further their education by attending graduate school or other professional development workshops and
seminars. In so doing, teachers keep abreast of the most effective teaching strategies. The most recent trend
among teachers of all kinds is Cooperative Learning. Cooperative Learning can mean a lot of things to a lot of
different people. Cooperative Learning in its true meaning is probably occurring a fraction of the time that a
teacher thinks it is in their classroom.
Cooperative Learning in its true form has groups of students working together to achieve a common goal or
task. The problem is we usually end up with group work. Group work is drastically different from Cooperative
Learning. When group work is occurring, students are usually bored, unmotivated and not actually cooperating
much at all. One student may do all the work and give the answers to the other members of his/her group.
Other times, each student may do a few questions each and then give the answers to everyone else in their
group. The bottom line is, group work does not allow all students to gain as much as they can from the lesson.
It is an unstructured learning experience where some students did a lot of the work and others did very little or
none. Because of the lack of structure many students also feel left out.
In true Cooperative Learning, students are given a structured task where everyone is involved and individual
accountability is built in. Students are working together to achieve success and have a positive learning
experience. They all will participate equally so individuals aren