Cooperative Learning Literature Review

CHAPTER 2
Review of Related Literature
The Theory
This is a set of principles on which an activity is based. Life in the classroom should represent the democratic process in living in a microcosm, and the heart of democratic living is cooperation in groups. Students should be taught to empathize with others, to respect the rights of others and to work together on rational problem solving (Dewey, 1916). Cooperative Learning therefore is an avenue to socialize students. (Foyle and Lyman, 1991).
Cooperative Learning
Cooperative Learning involves students in small group classroom activities. Ciancialo (2001) strengthened the concept that cooperative learning brings out social skills by stating that, “Cooperative Learning enhances students’ academic,

The positive achievements effects of cooperative learning appear consistent across grades (two through twelve), subject areas, and school settings (rural, urban, and suburban), (Salvin 1999). The positive effects of cooperative learning are reported consistently in affective areas (e.g. self esteem, intergroup relations, attitudes towards school, and ability to work cooperatively). (Salvin et al. 1990) report excellent results in Mathematics achievement and affective measures with Team Assisted Individualization for students with academic disabilities in a typical setting.

Elements of Cooperative Learning
Brown& Ciuffetelli Parker (2009) and Siltala (2010) discuss five (5) basic and essential elements of Cooperative Learning.
1. Positive Interdependence
• Students must fully participate and put forth effort within their group.
• Each group member has a task/role/responsibility and therefore must believe that they are responsible for their learning and that of their group.
2. Face-to-Face Promotive Interaction
• Members promote each other’s success.
• Students explain to one another what they have or are learning and assist one another with understanding of completion of assignment.
3. Individual and Group Accountability
• Each student must demonstrate

These are words penned by (Bacon,1561-1626). Mathematics is a part of accumulated knowledge of the human race, (Moursund, June 2006). According to Schoenfeld (1992), “Mathematics is an inherently social activity, in which a community of trained practitioners (mathematical scientist) engages in the science of patterns based on observation, study, and experimentation to determine the nature or principles of regularities within the system. Learning to think mathematically, means developing a mathematical point of view, valuing the processes of mathematization and abstraction, having the predilection (tendency) to apply them, developing competence with the tools of the trade, and using those tools in the service of the goal of understanding structure and mathematical sense