Teachers learn a variety of different skills and strategies throughout their college education. Once employed, teachers hone their skills by discovering what really works for them in the classroom. Many teachers also further their education by attending graduate school or other professional development workshops and seminars. By doing so, teachers stay abreast of the most effective teaching strategies. The newest trend among teachers of all kinds is Cooperative Learning. Cooperative learning can mean many things to many different people. Cooperative learning in its true meaning probably happens a fraction of the time a teacher thinks he is in her classroom.

Cooperative learning in its true form has groups of students working together to accomplish a common goal or task. The problem is that we usually end up with group work. Group work is drastically different from cooperative learning. When working in a group, students are often bored, unmotivated, and not really very cooperative. A student can do all the work and give the answers to the other members of her group. Other times, each student can ask a few questions each and then give the answers to everyone else in her group. The bottom line is that group work does not allow all students to get everything they can from the lesson. It is an unstructured learning experience in which some students did a lot of the work and others did little or nothing. Due to the lack of structure, many students also feel left out.

In true Cooperative Learning, students are given a structured task in which everyone is involved and individual responsibility is built. Students are working together to achieve success and have a positive learning experience. Everyone will participate equally so that people are not left out or trapped doing most of the work. By following these basic principles, students can become successful and more engaged learners in achieving certain life skills that they can retain throughout their school years and careers. Teachers need to get rid of the same old routine of group work and start challenging their students to be a part of the process so everyone can benefit from the success of the class.

Cooperative learning is not the all-powerful solution to our students’ education, but it does provide a framework that ensures all of our students can be the best they can be. This setup not only allows for a positive learning environment in which everyone participates, but also closely mimics the “real world” our students will be thrown into. Most careers involve people working in teams to complete a common task. Our children must learn the value of cooperating with one another in order to be effective throughout their lives.

The educational process may seem stuck in time, but it should never stand still. Educators must continue to foster the variety of strategies they use in the classroom throughout their teaching careers. Ironically, the teachers hold the key. Spread the word of what works and what doesn’t when educators share ideas. Whether veteran teachers or first-year teachers, all must help in a collegial setting to achieve a common goal: the education of our youth by the best possible means.