Chapter 11: Cooperative Learning: Theoretical Foundations and Relevance Across Cultures¹

Cooperative learning refers to instructional methods in which teachers organize students into small groups, which then work together to help one another learn academic content. Cooperative learning methods are extensively researched and under certain well-specified conditions are known to significantly improve student achievement in most subjects and grade levels. However, there remains considerable debate about the theoretical basis for achievement outcomes of cooperative learning. This chapter reviews and integrates evidence on the theoretical mechanisms relating to learning outcomes of cooperative learning, and presents evidence on the most widely used practical applications of cooperative methods. The chapter concludes with examining the use of cooperative learning in diverse contexts to explore the relevance of cooperative learning across cultures.