Cooperative Learning: More than just content

I have always been a fan of cooperative learning. I like the idea of students being able to work together to solve a problem. I think it is a skill that is important to foster at a young age, so they will only become more comfortable using it later in life. However, as a teacher, it can be very difficult to take a step back and let students go through the learning process on their own. We feel the need to continuously correct and give feedback. But with cooperative learning, it is important to let students take the reigns and edit and adjust their own work as they go.

A teacher's role in cooperative learning entails:

1. clarifying aims

2. providing learning materials

3. organizing study teams

4. assisting teams

5. sharing, evaluating, and recognizing work

Before beginning the lesson, the teacher will need to prepare any notes or handouts, as with any lesson. They also will need to create an end of the lesson exit ticket or quiz. This is one way to ensure students are learning the correct information. Also, the teacher will need to arrange the classroom in a way that promotes group work. The easiest way to do this to make groups of desks in islands or in a horseshoe shape.



The jigsaw method is one option when preparing a cooperative learning lesson. It is ideal what a lesson requires a teacher to cover 3-5 inter-related concepts in one session. In this method, students split into home groups and are each assigned one concept to research. They then move in to expert groups to perform and compile research with other students assigned the same concept. When research is complete, they return to their home groups to share what they have learned. The teacher must monitor student research, as they are being trusted to teach the correct material to their home group.

The jigsaw method:
1. empowers students to take charge of learning
2. makes students without realizing it
3. encourages peer tutoring
4. makes learning fun

Here are the steps to follow in a jigsaw lesson:
Step 1 - divide class into small, home groups by number of concepts
Step 2 - provide instruction about lesson
Step 3 - distribute concept handouts
Step 4 - ask students to read portion silently NO DISCUSSION
Step 5 - ask students with similar concepts to meet, expert groups: students will need to teach concept in their home group, teacher circulates/gives guidance
Step 6 - return to home group
Step 7 - students are quizzed to see how well they taught/how much learning took place

At the end of a cooperative learning lesson, students will need to do more than just turn in the assignment. They will present to the class about the information they gathered, as well as how the cooperative learning process was for them. They should also complete a survey that only the teacher will see about their groupmates and their own contributions to the project. Students also learn how to give and receive constructive feedback. One common way to do this is  by using the three pluses and a wish format, where students list three things liked about another groups work and then one wish for something more they would have liked to see.