FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What type of learning strategy focuses on enhancing skills through collaborative methods?

1. Reciprocal teaching

2. Cooperative learning

3. Discovery learning

4. Individualized instruction

The correct answer is: Cooperative learning

The type of learning strategy that emphasizes skill enhancement through collaborative methods is cooperative learning. This approach involves students working together in small groups to achieve educational goals. In cooperative learning settings, each group member typically has specific roles, which encourages participation, accountability, and support among peers. This method fosters a sense of community in the classroom, promotes the development of social skills, and enhances critical thinking and problem-solving abilities as students learn from one another. Cooperative learning contrasts with other strategies; for example, reciprocal teaching, while collaborative in nature, primarily focuses on teaching reading comprehension strategies through a structured dialogue between teacher and students. Discovery learning emphasizes exploration and inquiry, encouraging students to learn through experience rather than structured group interactions. Individualized instruction, on the other hand, tailors learning experiences to individual students' needs, often without the collaborative components that define cooperative learning. Thus, cooperative learning stands out as the approach that deliberately incorporates collaboration as a core aspect of skill development.