Cooperative learning is generally defined, as
will become clear from the following two definitions,
as a continuum of learners working together
in a small group, so that everyone can
participate in the collective task that has been
clearly defined by the teacher. Cooperative learning
is not merely another name for group work
as it includes more than learners simply working
together in groups. Cooperative learning is a
practical teaching strategy to offer learners more
active learning experiences, equal access to learning
and a more supportive social environment
(Johnson et al.1999). Killen (2007) defines cooperative
learning as an instructional design that
stimulates peer interaction and learner-to–learner
cooperation in the process of fostering successful
learning by all. Adams and Hamm (1996) state
that cooperative learning as a teaching strategy
is a success story in the transformation of education
over the past decade. Their research focuses
on the application of cooperative learning
activities in the classroom where students
jointly and creatively identify problems and generate
practicable solutions. Sapon-Shevin and
Schniedewind (1992) contend that cooperative
learning is necessary in any teaching-learning