Cooperative learning

Abstract

Cooperative Learning has been defined as “a body of literature and research that has examined the effects of cooperation in education. It offers ways to organize group work to enhance learning and increase academic achievement.” (Olsen and Kagan, 1992: 1). Olsen and Kagan’s definition will be used as a springboard to expand on the different and intertwined aspects cooperative learning consists of. The “body of literature and research” in the above definition will set the path to explore different cooperative learning methods and its background history will be analyzed by examining the “effects of cooperation in education”. It will be stated that group work is not the same as true cooperative academic experiences and, finally, the philosophy behind cooperative learning which is said to “enhance learning and increase academic achievement” will be reviewed.