Cooperative Learning

Both heterogeneous and homogeneous grouping patterns can be applied in lesson instruction and activities to teach grade level standards within specific content areas and to help students master grade level standards.

Advantages to heterogeneous grouping, where students of varying interests and performance levels learn and work together, include developing interpersonal relationships, increasing acceptance of classmates of different diversities and background, student tasks, roles, and accountability, and peer mentoring and leadership opportunities. In subjects such as history or science, students can benefit from wider exposure to the different viewpoints others may have on the subject matter or topic. Higher-achieving students within heterogeneous group can gain roles as a leader or mentor to assist and support those who may be struggling with the lesson. Furthermore, within a mixed ability group, students are held accountable for their efforts and the work they contribute because their task--while each are different from other's (such as discussion leader, note-taker, reporter, etc.)--are equally essential towards the completion of the overall product.

Advantages to homogeneous grouping, where students are grouped based on similar interests and/or performance abilities, include being able to target specific skills based on students' learning needs and allowing students to move on with their learning within being restricted to the pace of the entire classroom. For example, homogeneous grouping is beneficial for reading and math where students can be organized into small groups where each focuses on different concepts that the individual requires more clarification and support in (writing with more text evidence, text analysis, solving multi-step word problems, unit measurement and conversions, etc.). Lastly, by ability grouping students, creative dynamics among the team may start to form and students who usually do not actively participate in groups will explore new roles that they hadn't tried before.

In all, cooperative learning--whether it be heterogeneous or homogeneous grouping--allows for differentiation and increase in student performance by creating the opportunity for students to develop various interpersonal relationships and dynamics through different combinations of student groups and gain more access to content through those different interactions. In groups, students can explore the material more in depth, learn through different perspectives, and actively apply their skills towards a product that demonstrates their understanding.