Is cooperative learning an effective teaching strategy?

A student's education is one of the most important values in our society. In order for teachers to teach effectively, it is important for the educator to be aware of the variety of teaching strategies available for the I classroom. So that the teacher may activate and interest the minds of his or her students, the teacher must use a variety of techniques to involve the student in the learning process. One such technique is cooperative learning. Cooperative learning places the student in a group setting. In this group setting, the students are assigned a variety of tasks. Each student has a particular task that he or she must complete in order to complete the greater assignment. It is this teaching strategy that researchers such as Johnson and Johnson as well as Sharan and Sharan promote as a productive method by which students can engage in active learning. In looking to the research of these authors, I found myself skeptical as to whether cooperative learning could indeed be the cure that would lessen the differences in the classroom and promote a positive and engaging learning atmosphere in the classroom. I wondered whether or not cooperative learning could live up to the claims of these researchers. This study serves to provide information on whether or not cooperative learning is an effective teaching strategy. The information allows the teacher to consider the strategy of cooperative learning and whether it serves to effectively motivate and engage students.