Cooperative learning is probably the most exhaustively researched instructional method in the whole of education. There are literally thousands of studies out there that have looked at cooperative learning in every conceivable setting: K-12, higher education, laboratory settings, natural classroom settings, and so forth. The overwhelming body of evidence is cooperative learning, done right-and that means with those five elements in place and not just turning students loose to get into groups to do something-has a positive effect on almost every learning outcome you could think of. Both in terms of achievement in the classroom, performance on standardized tests, attitudes toward their education, skills of one kind or another. I mean, you name it and there are studies out there showing that you get those benefits if you use cooperative learning correctly. An important part of the workshops is pointing people to the research. We beg people to do what they've been trained to do, and not just take our words for this, but check the research out for themselves; and if it's persuasive, try the methods.

                           

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