Their task may be to discuss a piece of literature, solve a problem, revise one other's written work, or conduct an experiment, or create a joint product such as a written report, artwork, or presentation. Cooperative learning groups are intended to promote positive interdependence and individual accountability. Tasks may be highly structured by the teacher, as in reciprocal teaching, where students are provided with scripts for discussions. Alternatively, a teacher may simply instruct one member of a dyad to summarize for the other member what he or she has heard or read. In their shared activity, students regularly summarize, clarify, challenge, analyze, negotiate meaning, evaluate, justify, and make predictions.
Teachers deliberately group students with different characteristics together.
This encourages students to learn from each other both academically and socially. First, while the students were at lunch, Ms. M. placed a card on each of four tables. On each card were directions for a different group activity, listing the steps they were to take. The teacher then broke the class up into work groups of about four students, accordingly to how students worked most effectively together. They worked together easily, and then made a presentation to the class on their activities.