Cooperative learning: An alternative instructional system

During the last two decades, educators have searched for more productive and efficient ways to organize classrooms. Learning can be implemented under three possible structures: competitive, cooperative, and individualistic (Johnson & Johnson, 1974). Traditionally, American schools have relied heavily on competition as a goal structure. Students routinely are placed in settings wherein they compete for grades, teacher attention, approval, and a place in the social order of the classroom. Yet, the major problems facing our society today call for cooperation, understanding, problem solving, and altruis