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What is Co-operative learning?
Co-operative learning is a platform for Whole Brain Thinking and effective Teaching and Learning of the Curricula. Since 1988 research conducted into Co-operative Learning has repeatedly shown that when co-operative endeavours are compared to competitive or individualistic efforts, students display: higher achievement and greater productivity; more caring and supportive relationships and greater psychological health, social competence and self esteem.

In its simplest terms, Co-operative Learning is best described as a learning environment where "everyone learns from everyone else". Students co-operate to accomplish shared learning goals or problem solving activities. The learning of the individual is inextricably linked with the learning of the whole group.

Problem solving and Co-operative Learning cannot be dismissed as passing teacher fads. The 5 Key Elements detail the skills taught, practised and role-modelled by staff and students. These must be recognised as powerful teaching/learning strategies that will not only meaningfully implement the curricula but also empower the students with life-long skills for the dynamic future.

The 5 Key Elements

Individual Accountability
- Listening actively
- Checking for personal understanding
- Following through on tasks
- Asking for help
- Being patient
- Helping others with a difficult task
- Showing or explaining without doing
- Being responsible for personal responses
- Being assertive in acceptive ways
- Finding strategies to remember things 
- Managing time
- Managing materials

Social skills
- Praising and encouraging
- Negotiating
- Encouraging different opinions
- Expressing non-verbal encouragement and support
- Looking at each other in the group
- Using people's names
- Being self controlled
- Describing feelings when appropriate
- Resolving conflicts
- Mediating when others disagree
- Disagreeing respectfully

Face to Face interaction
- Questioning
- Paraphrasing
- Extending another's answer
- Clarifying ideas
- Summarising
- Taking turns equally
- Choosing a fair way to decide
- Making space for people
- Using quiet voices
- Ignoring distractions
- Staying with the group

Positive independence
- Sharing materials
- Equal participation
- Identifying common goals
- Ensuring everyone has a meaningful task
- Staying on task
- Helping the group stay focused
- Following directions
- Sequencing tasks
- Clarifying roles
- Gathering all roles before making a decision
- Mind mapping

Reflective moments
- Supporting the group's decision
- Asking for justification
- Criticising ideas not people
- Challenging assumptions
- Reaching a consensus
- Celebrating success
- Pacing group work
- Probing/asking in depth questions
- Accepting differences
- Helping prompting

Co-operative Learning Groups Roles and Expectations

Leader - ensures specific learning goals and outcomes are understood by all; all members are equally participating.
Encourager - All group members encourage everyone's participation.
Time Keeper - Keeps the group aware of time and progress.
Gofer - collects equipment and information.
Recorder -records the groups' notes with clarification and encouragement from all group members.
Clarifier - All group members ask questions to make ideas clear.
Artist - develops an interesting, agreed upon layout for the groups' findings.
Reporter - presents the groups' conclusion to others.