Learning with Peers: From Small Group Cooperation to Collaborative Communities

Abstract

Peer learninghas been_suggested by many as an edu-catiortar"""innovation that can trajisiorm students ' learning experiences. Policymakers and researchers see small group work as a way to improve attitudes to-ward school, foster achievement, develop thinking skills, and promote interpersonal and intergroup relations. Yet, like most other simple suggestions such as lengthening the school year or assigning more homework, learning from peers in cooperative or collaborative groups is complex and difficult to achieve. When practiced in an uninformed manner, it can stigmatize low achievers, exacerbate status differences, and create dysfunctional interactions among students. There are ways to overcome these problems, but none assure unqualified success and none can be applied as a recipe. Rather,-the_ways_to overcomejhese problems must be adapted to the unique circumstances of students, curriculum, and context. Creating_successfuI-group work is