It's More Than Just Working in Groups

Cooperative learning is more than just working in groups; it enhances students' critical and higher order thinking skills. After reading numerous articles about cooperative learning, I have quickly learned an abundant of useful information.

• "In extensive meta-analyses across hundreds of studies, cooperative arrangements were found superior to either competitive or individualistic structures on a variety of outcome measures, generally showing higher achievement, higher-level reasoning, more frequent generation of new ideas and solutions, and greater transfer of what is learned from one situation to another." (Barkley, et al, 2005: p.17-18)

The five key elements of cooperative learning are positive interdependence, group processing, individual accountability, face-to-face interaction, and interpersonal/small group social skills. I strongly believe that all these aspects contribute to the enhancement of critical and higher order thinking skills. When students develop these skills, I believe they are able to retain information effectively and are able to apply their knowledge.