This review highlights future areas for investigation and research of cooperative
learning as a learning/teaching method. These include: (a) more detailed
research into which students benefit most from cooperative learning; (b) addressing
the question as to whether cooperative learning could actually be
disadvantageous to high-achieving students; (c) researching the characteristics
of teachers who are drawn to this method of teaching; and (d) examining
whether this teaching method can be taught.
Group investigation has the potential to be a powerful form of cooperative
learning. Rooted in the ideals of Dewey and further developed by Lewin and
Thelan, this method twins a democratic foundation with the dynamics of
academic inquiry. Although it poses challenges for teachers in terms of
structure and evaluation, group investigation nonetheless offers students the
opportunity to take ownership of their own learning and to demonstrate their
knowledge and understanding