Positive interdependence and individual accountability as the two necessary elements of cooperative learning¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 3 studies (2 review, 1 design), q2 · 0 of 3 report an effect size

Description¶

The digest identifies the two elements that all cooperative learning advocates agree are absolutely necessary for cooperative learning to be successful: positive interdependence and individual accountability. Positive interdependence is described as "the glue that helps hold cooperative groups together," existing when members see it is in their best interests to work together and that each member's success is essential for the goal. Individual accountability means no member may do nothing and piggyback off others' efforts; it takes within-group forms (specific tasks or roles such as jigsaw sections, reader, timekeeper, checker) and outside-group forms (individual tests, quizzes, writing assignments, or question answering). Both elements must be specifically structured into activities by the teacher.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Positive interdependence usually doesn't happen naturally in the classroom and needs to be specifically structured into most cooperative activities by the teacher
• Individual accountability likewise needs to be specifically structured into the cooperative activity by the teacher

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• elementary and secondary students

Target Learning Goals¶

• cooperative group functioning
• individual responsibility for learning

Claims¶

• Three practitioner digests report, second-hand, Johnson and Johnson's finding that cooperative learning tends to promote higher achievement than competitive and individualistic learning across ages, subjects, and types of learning [+W]

Related Elements¶

• Simultaneity, proximity, social skills, and group evaluation as elements differentiating cooperative learning from group work

Examples¶

• Cooperative Learning Activities
• Establishing Group Roles

Key Sources¶

• Daniels, Ed; Gatto, Mike. (1996). The Cooperative Companion Digest (No. 1-4). Thinking about the Nature and Power of Cooperative Learning. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED402038