A method of learning which is instructor-led and where students work in small groups to achieve a shared goal.
Co-operative learning is a structured process in which roles and tasks are assigned through negotiation or by the instructor. Group members rely on one another to achieve their goals as well as being individually accountable for doing their share of the work. Co-operative learning is used to help groups attain foundational level knowledge and, in contexts where the learners require structure, to maintain focus and achieve goals.
Research suggests that co-operative learning develops interpersonal skills, the ability to develop supporting relationships, negotiation, leadership and conflict resolution capabilities. The terms co-operative learning and collaborative learning are often used interchangeably and in practice the distinction between them is fuzzy. Teachers have differing perspectives on the subject. Some theorists have suggested that it might be helpful to view collaborative learning as a continuum with co-operative learning inhabiting the structured end.