The present book entitled “co-operative learning: a strategy for effective classroom teaching in social science” (An empirical study) has been specially designed to equip the teacher and teacher educators with as much knowledge on all aspects as per recommendations of NPE-1986, NCF-2005and 2011. Education is one of the most important factors in achieving the developmental goals of a country. Social Science is one among those subjects which is an essential element of education. Social Science is a subject which broadens the horizon of an individual and develops various skills and provides opportunity for the professional growth of an individual. Social Science has become a greater value in the present day; Social Science has spread its net on all over the fields of life. Before the days of early printing when books were not easily available, the knowledge was imparted by the teachers from their own store by lecturing and discussion. With the advancement of educational technology and educational research the educationists evolved many teaching skills and techniques, which resulted in effective teaching. The teachers are required to teach in such a way xii that the students should learn better, understand well and also feel interested while learning. The scope of the book has been made broad-based and comprehensive and the approach is practical and functional. Practical approach followed in dealing with topics such as model approach with reference to Cooperative learning model, currents trends in social science teaching-learning process like collaborative learning approach, methodology, analysis and interpretation of data and at the end findings of research along with educational implications of present study are discussed. The author, therefore hope that this book which is very informative for teachers working at secondary schools and teacher-educators. We hope that this book would meet the needs of both the students, teachers and teacher educators and especially would be researchers in the field of education. We look forward to and appreciate suggestions from the intelligentsia to improve the book.

Cooperative Learning In Social Studies provides practical assistance to both new and experienced teachers who are seeking effective small-group alternatives or additions to their current social studies teaching repertoire.

"These activities will foster participation and critical thinking in the classroom." —R. Jon Frey, Director of Speech Activities Aberdeen Central High School, SD "Cooperative group learning is a powerful approach, and this book provides explicit ideas and guidelines." —Stephanie van Hover, Associate Professor of Social Studies Education University of Virginia Give your students the opportunity to think, discover, and learn together in social studies! Teamwork helps students strengthen individual retention, improve performance, and promote meaning-making in the classroom. To give adolescent minds practice in critical thinking, the authors use their considerable teaching experience to present more than 40 problem-solving activities that are ready for immediate use in the social studies classroom. This second edition of Catch Them Thinking in Social Studies demonstrates how to use collaborative learning strategies to fully engage students in meaning-making. Cooperative Problem-Solving Activities for Social Studies, Grades 6–12 offers lessons in five areas of social studies instruction: geography, politics, economics, culture, and history. Each activity includes background information, clue cards, objectives, tasks, and worksheets. This updated edition helps teachers: Develop students′ decision-making, analysis, and communication skills Foster teamwork and interdependent learning Construct cooperative problem-solving activities using their own curriculum Featuring current research and new activities, this hands-on resource helps teachers facilitate cooperative problem solving in social studies and provides teacher tips throughout the book.

"Gilles focuses the majority of the book on the relationship in the classroom between the individual teacher and the students. She gives teachers ammunition to overcome resistance to cooperative learning by presenting well-substantiated research on virtually every page of her book showing the benefits of having students study together." —Ted Wohlfarth, PSYCCRITIQUES "This text's greatest strengths are bringing together a range of powerful teaching strategies connected to students taking responsibility for their own learning and the learning of others. The focus on both teacher strategies to encourage effective group talk and student strategies to encourage effective discourse is helpful." —Nancy L. Markowitz, San Jose State University Although cooperative learning is widely endorsed as a pedagogical practice that promotes learning and socialization among students, teachers still struggle with how to introduce it into their classrooms. This text highlights the strategies teachers can use to challenge student thinking and scaffold their learning as well as the strategies students can be taught to promote discourse, problem—solving, and learning during cooperative learning. Key Features Presents cooperative learning in conjunction with national standards: The book situates cooperative learning within the context of No Child Left Behind and a climate of high stakes testing. Links theory with practice: Numerous case studies and small group exercises highlight how teachers can assess both the process and outcomes of cooperative learning. Emphasizes the key role teachers play in establishing cooperative learning: Guidelines are given on how teachers can establish cooperative learning in their classrooms to promote student engagement and learning across various levels and for students of diverse abilities. Incorporates the latest research on cooperative learning: An overview is provided of the major research and theoretical perspectives that underpin the development of cooperative learning pedagogy. Intended Audience This is an excellent supplementary text for several undergraduate and graduate level K—12 teacher preparation and certification courses regularly offered in schools of education. It can also be used as one of several texts in courses on cooperative learning and as a supplement in K—12 teaching methods courses. Talk to the author! r.gillies@uq.edu.au

In this concise book, David and Roger Johnson and Edythe Johnson Holubec reinforce the cooperative learning theories found in Circles of Learning: Cooperation in the Classroom and expand those theories to include the school and school district. Offering a thorough description of cooperative learning and the research behind it, the authors explain how cooperative learning can be implemented in the classroom and why cooperation must pervade schooling at every level. They discuss not only formal cooperative learning but also informal cooperative learning, cooperative base groups, and cooperative structures. They emphasize that cooperation is more than a seating arrangement, that educators must attend to these essential components: * Positive interdependence * Individual accountability/personal responsibility * Face-to-face promotive interaction * Interpersonal and small-group skills * Group processing Conflict is inevitable in any environment, and the authors provide succinct advice on managing conflict to creative a cooperative environment, structuring academic controversies, teaching procedures and skills, structuring a peacemaking program, teaching negotiation/mediation procedures and skills, and arbitrating as a last resort. If you want a successful learning community where people support each other’s efforts and treat one another with respect, helping students develop their cooperative learning skills should be a key part of your strategy—and with this book you can start doing that.

A dynamic team of authors demonstrates how any classroom teacher can use cooperative learning techniques for lesson planning, classroom management, and improving students' collaboration skills.

Cooperative learning is widely endorsed as a pedagogical practice that promotes student learning. Recently, the research focus has moved to the role of teachers’ discourse during cooperative learning and its effects on the quality of group discussions and the learning achieved. However, although the benefits of cooperative learning are well documented, implementing this pedagogical practice in classrooms is a challenge that many teachers have difficulties accomplishing. Difficulties may occur because teachers often do not have a clear understanding of the basic tenets of cooperative learning and the research and theoretical perspectives that have informed this practice and how they translate into practical applications that can be used in their classrooms. In effect, what do teachers need to do to affect the benefits widely documented in research? A reluctance to embrace cooperative learning may also be due to the challenge it poses to teachers’ control of the learning process, the demands it places on classroom organisational changes, and the personal commitments teachers need to make to sustain their efforts. Moreover, a lack of understanding of the key role teachers need to play in embedding cooperative learning into the curricula to foster open communication and engagement among teachers and students, promote cooperative investigation and problem-solving, and provide students with emotionally and intellectually stimulating learning environments may be another contributing factor. The Teacher's Role in Implementing Cooperative Learning in the Classroom provides readers with a comprehensive overview of these issues with clear guidelines on how teachers can embed cooperative learning into their classroom curricula to obtain the benefits widely attributed to this pedagogical practice. It does so by using language that is appropriate for both novice and experienced educators. The volume provides: an overview of the major research and theoretical perspectives that underpin the development of cooperative learning pedagogy; outlines how specific small group experiences can promote thinking and learning; discusses the key role teachers play in promoting student discourse; and, demonstrates how interaction style among students and teachers is crucial in facilitating discussion and learning. The collection of chapters includes many practical illustrations, drawn from the contributors’ own research of how teachers can use cooperative learning pedagogy to facilitate thinking and learning among students across different educational settings.

The contributors to this book, many of whom are recognised world experts on cooperative learning, make insightful links between the theories that underpin the study of group dynamics and their practical application to the classroom.

This is an exploration of the fundamentals of co-operative learning which explains its theoretical and research foundations. This book also provides real-life examples and lesson plans for creative co-operative group instruction, co-operative classroom management, and assessment and problem solving. It is designed to help students develop a repertoire of instructional strategies, exploring multiple approaches and methods. It also presents explicit suggestions for modifying standard lessons (objectives, materials and the environment) in order to meet the needs of diverse and exceptional learners.