Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 326 Unit 4 The Teacher Cooperative learning takes many different formats and is adaptable to most subject areas and age groups. The specific assignment requires careful planning. The teacher divides students into groups, usually of two to six stu- dents with diverse characteristics. The structure of the learning task encour- ages students to work together and to be responsible for each other’s learning. At the same time, the teacher builds in individual accountability, or a way to assess each student’s participation and learning. Group members share ideas and propose solutions. The group must resolve differences and work together to complete the assignment. The teacher acts as a facilitator, moni- toring the groups to keep them on track, but not offering solutions. Cooperative learning offers many advantages. The ability to work together in a group is an important life skill. Opportunities to work together build stu- dents’ willingness to contribute, listen to and respect others’ opinions, help one another, and negotiate differences. Self-esteem and responsibility improve, as well. Most students enjoy learning more when working with their peers. Collaborative Learning Teams Working in a team is a skill students must develop just like writing and critical thinking. The terms cooperative learning and collaborative learning are often used interchangeably but they are significantly different. What is the difference? In cooperative learning, a teacher may switch between lecturing and group discussion. Cooperative learning teams may also perform a task or solve a problem, but their work is usually not complex or interdependent. They may instead end up divvying up the work and then combining their answers. They do not need to work on it together to get the job done. In collaborative learning, assignments involve a task or problem stu- dents must solve using their complementary and interdependent skills, experiences, or opinions. The team members have clearly defined and rec- ognized differentiated roles. The task is designed so that they must come together to coordinate the outcomes of their responsibilities (Figure 14.19). MachineHeadz/iStock/Getty Images Figure 14.19 Collaborative learning requires students to work interdependently to solve a problem or achieve a goal.