According to Debbie Silver (2005), the business world of the twenty-first century has repeatedly told educators that the two most important skills they want in employees are the ability to creatively solve problems and the ability to work together in order to achieve a common goal. Often school mission statements reference the students need to be caring members of the community. Having students participate in heterogeneous groups is one way to enable the students to speak with one another in a positive environment.
Silver (2005) states "Purposeful cooperative learning activities help students develop interpersonal communication skills they will need later for marriage, job, families, friendships, and other social interactions" (p.132). Intentional socialization components intertwined with learning activities will also help build a sense of community and common purpose for students.
In addition to Silver, Nancy Schniedewind and Ellen Davidson (2000) state that there are several benefits to cooperative learning. By experiencing cooperative groups, students learn to value diversity by understanding the intelligences and perspectives of others. The students learn to appreciate that each individual should and can make a meaningful contribution toward a common goal. They also come to respect the value of each contributor. The combination of personal challenge and collective responsibility fosters educated, caring, human beings, and personalizes education on all learning levels.
By incorporating a cooperative learning activity in many lessons, students will be able to develop skills for self-control, group participation, social awareness, and problem solving. Teaching these social skills during each lesson will provide students with tools for everyday social, academic, familial, and vocational success.
References
Schneidewind, N., Davidson, E. (2000). Differentiating cooperative learning [Electronic version]. Educational Leadership, 58(1), 24-27.
Silver, D. (2005). Drumming to the beat of different marchers. Nashville, TN: Incentive Publications.
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