Speaker
Description
This presentation will present Cooperative Learning and present effective implementation strategies for English classrooms. Participants will engage in practical CL activities that are adaptable across educational levels, from preschool to high school. These activities are informed by a range of sources, including workshops (Laurier, 2025) and relevant literature (Kagan & Kagan, 2009). By the end of the session, attendees will obtain concrete activities and ideas to promote cooperation and positive classroom relationships.
References
Kagan, S., & Kagan, M. (2009). Kagan cooperative learning. Kagan Publishing.
Laurier, J. (2025, November 8). Handing students the proverbial fishing rod: Cooperative
learning to develop deeper learning [Workshop presentation]. Nagoya University
of Foreign Studies, Nagoya, Japan.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). (2017). The
course of study for elementary schools, lower secondary schools, and upper secondary schools. Retrieved December 29, 2025. https://www.mext.go.jp
Olsen, R. E. W. B., & Kagan, S. (1992). About cooperative learning. Kagan Cooperative
Learning.
Abstract
Cooperative Learning (CL) is acknowledged by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as a foundational approach for contemporary classroom practices. However, many teachers encounter difficulties in effectively integrating CL, primarily due to limited training opportunities and a lack of practical guidance from MEXT, especially within English education. Consequently, although CL has been referenced in policy documents over the years, its consistent implementation in daily classroom practices remains limited.
Olsen and Kagan (1992) define cooperative learning as “a group learning activity organized so that learning is dependent on the socially structured exchange of information between learners, in which each learner is held accountable for their own learning and motivated to support the learning of others.” Japanese scholars such as Sekita, Shiota, and Sugie have promoted the integration of CL into Japanese educational contexts. In 2017, MEXT revised the Course of Study to include elements of CL through the adoption of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), with the objective of enhancing collaboration, communication, and learner autonomy.
This presentation will outline the key concepts of Cooperative Learning and present effective implementation strategies for English classrooms. Participants will engage in practical CL activities that are adaptable across educational levels, from preschool to high school. These activities are informed by a range of sources, including workshops (Laurier, 2025) and relevant literature (Kagan & Kagan, 2009). By the end of the session, attendees will obtain concrete activities, ideas, and strategies to promote cooperation, student autonomy, and positive classroom relationships.
Keywords
cooperative learning
young learners
student autonomy
Short summary
This presentation will present Cooperative Learning and present effective implementation strategies for English classrooms. Participants will engage in practical CL activities that are adaptable across educational levels, from preschool to high school. These activities are informed by a range of sources, including workshops (Laurier, 2025) and relevant literature (Kagan & Kagan, 2009). By the end of the session, attendees will obtain concrete activities and ideas to promote cooperation and positive classroom relationships.
| Scheduling preference | Anytime on Saturday or Sunday |
|---|---|
| Title | Cooperative Learning in Action: Practical Strategies for English Classrooms |