Why Does Cooperative Learning Work? Teaching involves more than
covering the material for the students, but rather uncovering
the material with the students (Redish, 2000). An extensive body
of research emphasizes two forms of interaction most important
for enhancing student academic development, personal development
and satisfaction: - student - student interactions - student -
faculty interactions Pascarella and Terenzini's summary of
twenty years of research on the impact college has on student
development supports the importance of this engagement.
Cooperative learning is a way to facilitate student-student,
student-faculty interactions efficiently and systematically.
Cooperative learning exercises enhance important skills
including (Barkley, Cross and Major, 2005): - using the language
of the discipline - explaining, providing feedback,
understanding alternative perspectives - discovering patterns
and relationships - organizing and synthesizing information -
developing strategies and analysis