Cooperative Learning for
Meaningful Learning
Yael Sharan
When does it make sense to study
with another person?
 An open-ended question
 No prescribed answer or solution
 Skill building
What is Cooperative
Learning?
 Small groups of 3 or 4
 Helping one another
 Sharing materials
 Sharing ideas
 Planning how to work together
A Cooperative Task or Learning
Activity
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Specific contributions &/or roles
Mutual help
Each one accountable
Clear evaluation criteria
Cooperative Learning
Methods
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Teams-Games-Tournaments - TGT
Student Teams Achievement Divisions - STAD
Cooperative Structures
Learning Together
Jigsaw
Complex Instruction
Group Investigation
Constructive Controversy
How Cooperative
Learning Methods &
Models Differ
•
•
•
Mastery and motivation
STAD, TGT, Jigsaw
Social skills and interpersonal communication
Learning Together
Structural Approach
In-depth intellectual inquiry, intrinsic motivation and equal status interaction
Complex Instruction, Group Investigation
What CL methods and
models
have in common:
 Learning activities suitable for group work
 Student interaction focused on task
 Cooperative behavior
 Positive interdependence
 Individual accountability
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How does CL affect
teachers?
Move from transmission approach to…
• Transaction
• Transformation
Before You Choose,
Ask Yourself About:
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Group size
Teacher's role
Students' role
Time
Rewards
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Main aims
Students' age
The curriculum
Preparation
Forming groups
What Causes CL to Spread
Around the World?
 Diverse theories
 Research support
 Multiple methods, models,
procedures
 Teacher education
 School-wide change