Cooperative Learning Techniques:

Collaborative and co-operative techniques, in which students work in small groups with their peers, have proven to be very effective in helping students to identify and analyze social and ethical issues. Since most classes are too large to work with the class as a single group, the class should be divided into small working and discussion groups of 3-5 students. When dividing students into groups, there are several important strategies which will insure successful group interaction :

1) There should be a preliminary ice-breaker to get the students talking with each other.

2) There should be a minimal structure to the group; including a discussion director who helps to keep the groups focus or a scribe to record the group decisions.

3) If the project they will be working on is complex, it is best to have the students work individually on the subject at home before coming together in groups in class.