Partners in Learning Chapter Eleven

Social Models and Human Nature Are we born to cooperate? Yes.! Yes! Another inborn capacity to take advantage of in education. Can we work effectively as individuals – independently? Yes! Yes!

Even when studying cooperatively, individuals are doing the learning. When teaching, the question is WHEN to use specific cooperative structures and processes. Always, the overall classroom climate should be a collaborative one – all for one and one for all!

Tips for Teaching Teaching students to learn together is the key. Begin with pairs and simple tasks – like checking one-another’s homework, reading each other’s writing for typos, and such. For little kids, provide simple sharing tasks, like managing materials (One crayon box per pair!) .

Study the Johnson’s methods. They provide a serious array of ways of helping students of all ages learn “positive interdependence.” Here is a good place to start: Johnson, D. and Johnson, R. An Educational Psychology Success Story: Social Interdependence Theory and Cooperative Learning. Educational Researcher 2009; 38(5); 365-379

Better in many ways … Used regularly and appropriately, cooperative learning increases learning, the tone of the learning environment, and the self-image of individuals. Cooperative study groups have helped students not only succeed, but avoid failure in difficult situations. (see, Bonstingl, 1993).