Cooperative Learning And Social Interdependence Theory

One of the social psychology's great success stories is the widespread use of cooperative learning. Being virtually unknown 30 years ago, cooperative learning is now a standard educational practice in almost every elementary and secondary school, and many colleges and universities in the world. The new Standard of English Teaching in China emphasizes the spirits of cooperation.Cooperative learning exists when students work together to achieve joint learning groups. Any assignment in any curriculum for any age student can be done cooperatively. It is based on social interdependence theory and the related research. Social interdependence theory provides educators with a conceptual framework for understanding how cooperative learning may be most fruitfully structured, adapted to a wide variety of instructional situations, and applied to a wide range of issues (such as achievement, ethnic integration, and prevention of drug abuse).In cooperative learning, students learn to cooperate with others, help each other and enhance their abilities of solving problems.In this thesis, the relationships between cooperative learning and social interdependence theory, the relationships between cooperative learning and competition, the basic elements and outcomes of cooperative learning, and some variables of cooperation are analyzed to identify the application of cooperative learning in teaching.