Considering the modern context of collaborative learning and information technology, details implications for space design, primarily from the field of environmental psychology--the study of the relationship between people and their physical environment. (EV)

Profiles Andre Allison and Florence Mondry, English teachers at Shoreham-Wading River High School (New York), who have placed composition at the center of their curricula, giving students more responsibility and fostering cooperative learning. Both use reading logs to help students interpret literature intelligently and extract meaning from their…

A large class that must share one computer can still get the benefits of adventure/simulation software if students work in small groups. Teamwork stimulates sharing and cooperation. The importance of planning, useful peripherals, follow-up activities, and product information are included in this article. (IAH)

States that small-group instruction has been used for many years, but introducing cooperation into small groups of learners has given a new twist to an old strategy. Reviews the literature and research on cooperative learning in the context of mathematics instruction and explains what it is, how to implement it, and when to use it. (Author)

Critiques Kohn's article (in the same "Educational Leadership" issue) arguing against the use of cooperative rewards. Without group rewards based on the learning of all group members, cooperative learning can degenerate into answer-sharing. The idea that such rewards (usually paper certificates) can be dispensed with is wishful thinking. Includes…

Responding to Slavin's critique of Kohn's article (in the same "Educational Leadership" issue) condemning cooperative rewards, Kohn slams Slavin's faulty research interpretations. Slavin may be correct that few non-reward-based classrooms exist in the U.S., but this hardly demonstrates that the best alternative to bribing individuals is to bribe…

Team Assisted Individualization (TAI) in mathematics and Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) are among the best researched and most effective of all cooperative learning methods. TAI was developed to apply cooperative learning techniques to solve individualized instruction problems. Relevant research on both methods is discussed.…

Discusses three essential components of successful cooperative education programs (commitment, pacing, and support) and offers practical suggestions to teachers, such as arranging groups efficiently, determining group size, deciding how long groups should stay together, and deciding when group learning is appropriate. Teaching social skills is…

Four literature reviews found that cooperative learning methods using group rewards and individual accountability consistently increase student achievement more than control methods in elementary and secondary classrooms. More research is needed to gauge cooperative learning's effectiveness at senior high and college levels and for instilling…

The article recommends use of the classroom sociogram to help teachers form cooperative learning groups. The effectiveness of the cooperative learning method is enhanced when teachers balance cooperative groups with high group status children and mutual choice pairs. (DB)

Inexpensive and easy to implement, cooperative learning shifts the achievement burden from the teacher to all individuals in the classroom. Cooperative learning can prove particularly useful for Native American students, who are already fairly well advanced at sharing, working in groups, and independent reasoning when entering school. Includes…

Schools are realizing that the future success of their students will be reflected in their ability to effectively function in a "team" environment. (MLF)

The problem-solving method of teaching and learning is recommended, to provide for the intellectual and artistic needs of all students, including gifted students. The method encourages a diversity of strengths by involving children of many abilities in a shared activity. A third-grade social studies unit illustrates use of the approach. (JDD)

Examines the advantages and disadvantages of peer tutoring and Paired Reading, a program of structured pair-work between children with different reading abilities. Claims these methods have great potential for cooperative learning, and emphasizes that good organization by the teacher is essential. (MM)

Explains how a teacher reluctantly accepted an assignment to teach an independent study unit on biography to high school seniors. Notes that student interest ran very high. Touts the value of autobiography and biography in the classroom; maintains that their appeal is broad and individual and conducive to small-group work because they are plot…