COOPERATIVE LEARNING STRUCTURES: DEEPENING LEARNING THROUGH INTERACTION

Introduction to Cooperative Learning Structures

How can you intentionally create opportunities for students to engage with each other? How do you ensure each student has an opportunity to contribute to the learning community? This can be done through the use of cooperative learning structures. Cooperative learning structures are specific strategies that can be used to organize interactions between students who are working cooperatively. These structures can be implemented regardless of the content or program area. Structures vary in the amount of time and planning that is needed to facilitate these interactions. In the video below, Dominic explains the importance of including these strategies in your instruction as well as how to classify them to best meet your needs.

Note: The audio cuts out in the last few seconds of the video, but the closing idea should still be clear.

Review of the Cooperative Learning Strategy Cards

Earlier in the module you were given a link to CPD's strategy cards, which include formative assessment strategies at the top. You can get to the same link here. As you scroll down through the cards, you will also see a set that are labeled as strategies for cooperative learning structures. These are the same structures as presented in the Continuum of Cooperative Learning Structures displayed below. As mentioned in the video, you should read through each of these strategies and consider how they could potentially be incorporated into your instruction.

You can view the embedded document below, or you can open the document by following this link: Continuum of Cooperative Learning Structures