REFLECTIONS ON CHAPTER 3
I was excited to read this chapter on Coorperative
Learning. I think this model of learning is less
stressful, more exciting for the students, and yes more
interesting and fullfilling for the teacher as well. 
The author states that there are critics who maintain
that inquiry and problem solving teaching strategies
take longer and may be more difficult to fully assess.
It appears that our public schools now faced with the
AIMs tests will have little opportunity to practice
cooperative learning. Schools and school districts need
to have the students learn the basic skills quickly in
order to pass the test and receive an acceptable ranking
in order to survive. Where and how can cooperative
learning come in to play? 
 
In many cultures throughout the world traditional
learning is cooperative. Children are taught from the
beginning that they are part of a family, often an
extended family who then makes up the community. Members
of the community are often related by either blood or by
marriage. Everyone else is considered a stranger. A
child's references are all familial terms and members of
the family are responsible for teaching the child the
rules of how to behave socially as well as how to
survive. Individuality is frowned upon. What is right
for the group is more important than what is right for
the individual.Giving children and adult learners the
opportunity to explore cooperatively is a more natural
way of learning. There can certainly be some friendly
competition involved as well.
 
The entire concept of the jigsaw, which develops formal
organizations for the division of labor has long been
the way societies and cultures structure their social
and economic organizations. Again, a more organic way to
function and to learn one's role in the community. It is
essential that children learn from an early age to
function cooperatively, today more so than ever. As we
face so many difficulties as human beings; as we watch
our survival threatened it is important to remember that
although one person can begin to make a difference, it
is the group that inevitably will shape the world to
come.