Cooperative Learning

"Cooperative learning is the instructional use of small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each other's learning." Extensive research carried out by a variety of researchers over a wide range of subject areas and settings, and with students at all levels of education level, has demonstrated that cooperative learning produces higher achievement than do competitive or individualized teaching methods. This effect, however, does not automatically appear when students are placed in groups. For cooperative learning to be effective, five essential elements need to be purposefully structured into the learning experience.  These are: 1) positive interdependence, 2) individual accountability, 3) promotive interaction, 4) the development of interpersonal skills, and 5) group processing (self-assessment of the group functioning).

While cooperative learning strategies are just beginning to gain a foothold in law school classes, it has been demonstrated to increase retention and improve performance for minority students in law school, and to improve student writing in first year legal writing courses. There is little doubt that this strategy will prove to be as effective for many settings in legal education as it is for other disciplines.