associated with cooperative learning is Spencer Kagan. In 1985, Dr. Spencer Kagan introduced the structural approach to cooperative learning, which is now used
worldwide in classrooms at all grade levels. The definition and concept of Cooperative Language Learning is seen as follows:
2.3.1 Definition of Cooperative Learning
There are several definitions of cooperative learning that have been formulated by experts. Unfortunately, there is no agreed definition of what cooperative learning is
among them. One way to understand the definition of cooperative learning is to refer to what experts say:
1 Cooperative learning is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams,
each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject Kagan, 1994.
2 Cooperative learning is instruction that involves students working in groups to
achieve a shared goal of maximizing their own and each other’s learning Johnson, 2000:17.
3 Cooperative learning methods is instructional techniques in which students
work in small groups to help one another learning academic content are among the most effective teaching methods known Richard, 2006:4.
From the above definitions, it could be concluded that cooperative learning is a teaching strategy involving joint intellectual effort by students, or students and
teachers together in which small teams, with students of different levels of ability, using a variety of learning activities to work together in small group to find solutions
and meanings about something, creating a product and improving their understanding of a subject and without leaving to help each other’s.
The term Cooperative Learning involves active learning activities which students do in groups rather than working alone. In cooperative learning techniques,
students work in groups and cooperate with their teammates to solve the problem. Each member of a team is responsible not only for learning what is taught but also for
helping teammates to learn something and creating good atmosphere for learning. Students work through the assignment until all the group members successfully
understand the lesson.
2.3.2 The Basic Principles of Cooperative Learning
In conducting cooperative learning method in teaching process, teacher must pay attention to the principles in cooperative learning. There are many principles of
cooperative learning that have been formulated by the experts. The Johnson model 2000 identified five principles in cooperative learning method. The principles are
positive interdependence, individual accountability, face-to-face promotive interaction, appropriate use of collaborative skills, and group processing.
However, the most widely used in education is stated by Kagan in Dell’s 1994
PIES stand for Positive Interdependence, Individual Accountability, Equal Participation, and Simultaneous Interaction. Although not every
key concept be a part of every cooperative learning lesson, that all of these basic principles must be implemented in order to label group
learning as effective and “cooperative.
We could conclude that PIES are crucial principles in conducting cooperative learning in classroom. PIES is explained as follows:
1 Positive interdependence
In this principle students are supposed to learn from each other whether from their friends or the teacher. Team members should help one another to achieve
the goal of the lesson. If any team members that failed to do their part, everyone in that group would suffer the consequences. For instant, in
cooperative learning, students would sink or swim together with their team members.
2 Individual accountability
Individual accountability means students should perform on his or her ability after rehearsing or practicing in their group.
3 Equal participation
It means that each student within the group has an equal opportunity to take a part in classroom activity. It is possible that one student may dominate the
activity and another one is passive. The teacher could control this situation and make sense this does not happen in the classroom.
4 Simultaneous interaction
Many interactions happened in conducting cooperative learning method among students. At any moment all of the students must be actively involves
in speaking and listening activity. So the students must be ready at any moment for the activity.
2.3.3 Cooperative Learning Structure
