This paper discusses cooperative learning, a technique in which students work in small heterogeneous learning groups. Following a definition of cooperative learning, the paper describes the most widely used cooperative learning methods, including Student Teams-Achievement Divisions (STAD), Teams-Games-Tournament (TGT), Jigsaw, Learning Together,…

The mid-intermediate elementary level curriculum guide on consumerism is designed to help students better define their own value system, develop an improved decision-making procedure, evaluate alternatives in the marketplace, and understand their consumer rights and responsibilities. The guide contains five sections related to five major…

Suggests a technique for use in college sociology courses which processes cognitive content in a small group. The method stresses sensitivity to group members, active participation in the learning process, individual responsibility for learning outcomes, and openness to feedback. (Author/DB)

Describes a creative writing assignment in which individuals write episodes about different characters and small groups collaborate on unifying the collected "chapters" into sagas. (RL)

Describes a way of getting students to write poetry through writing collaborative poems. Relates the step-by-step procedure used by a class in writing a collaborative poem, and presents their poem. (RL)

Describes a classroom game that demonstrates to students that equilibria can occur naturally in order to encourage students to take unreasonable equilibria more seriously. Discusses the game, how to organize it in the classroom for a game theory course, and the results. (CMK)

Presents an approach to teaching Pierre Boulle's novella, "Face of a Hero," in which students produce their own "Cliffs Notes" for the text. Stresses the importance of using nontraditional literature, and shows how students can discover their own richer responses to literature instead of relying on study aids. (MM)

Describes how one seventh-grade teacher accomplishes a comprehensive review of reading and writing skills by having groups of students design and present reviews of selected skills to their classmates. (SR)

In today's world, the ability to work with others is essential, and cooperative learning can be a powerful teaching strategy to enhance interpersonal skills. The article describes nine essential steps for social skills success and discusses nonverbal and verbal social skills for group work. (SM)

Cooperative games program was conducted with second graders who had a previous problem with low cooperative skills and excluding children. These games are a viable intervention for counselors to promote cooperation, fun, good health, and positive social interaction. A shift in attitude was observed during the program, as well as an improvement in…

Describes an assignment useful in high school and college-level literature classes in which students choose a book (or other reading material) from among a group of works that fit the parameters of the course or unit and work in groups to prepare a presentation. Suggests these reading groups and self-selection of reading material encourages active…

Describes a simulation project used in social theory courses where students work in groups of four or five to plan and present a television program. Explains that students choose the format of the show, take the roles of theorists, and present responses to contemporary issues that they think the theorists would offer. (CMK)

Group cohesiveness is a topic addressed in most small group communication texts and courses and is often defined as the degree of attraction members feel towards one another, the degree of loyalty within a group, or the "groupness" felt among members. Further, groups which are cohesive tend to be happier and more productive. When working on…

This handbook provides a guide for teachers on including children with special needs in the regular classroom. Different aspects of inclusion and its process are elaborated by way of 26 tips which concern: (1) acceptance; (2) belonging; (3) cooperation; (4) diversity; (5) the process of inclusion; (6) friendship; (7) students' gifts and talents;…

This book provides guidelines and suggested activities for collaborative learning for elementary grade students with a variety of abilities and disabilities. It is based on experiences at the Developmental Studies Center (Oakland, California). Activities are presented as blueprint formats that provide a comprehensive set of structures which can be…