Which term describes when the teacher places students into small groups and gives them a task to complete together?

Which term describes when the teacher places students into small groups and gives them a task to complete together?

• A. Language Experience Approach (LEA)
• B. Cooperative Learning
• C. Discovery Learning
• D. Guided Practice

Answer: (B)

Cooperative learning describes organizing students into small groups who work together to complete a shared task. The teacher designs the activity so each member contributes and the group relies on one another to reach a common goal. In ESOL contexts, this setup naturally prompts language use: students explain ideas, ask clarifying questions, negotiate meanings, and provide feedback, all while the teacher provides scaffolding and moves around the room to support language targets. Key aspects often include clear goals, assigned roles, positive interdependence, individual accountability, and opportunities for the group to reflect on how it worked and what to improve. This approach fits the scenario because it emphasizes collaborative task completion in a structured, teacher-guided way that promotes authentic language practice. Other terms describe different instructional focuses: the Language Experience Approach centers on turning students’ spoken experiences into literacy work, not specifically on group-task collaboration; Discovery Learning emphasizes student-led exploration with minimal guidance; Guided Practice involves teacher-supported practice, often more individual or whole-group, rather than formal small-group task completion.

Cooperative learning describes organizing students into small groups who work together to complete a shared task. The teacher designs the activity so each member contributes and the group relies on one another to reach a common goal. In ESOL contexts, this setup naturally prompts language use: students explain ideas, ask clarifying questions, negotiate meanings, and provide feedback, all while the teacher provides scaffolding and moves around the room to support language targets. Key aspects often include clear goals, assigned roles, positive interdependence, individual accountability, and opportunities for the group to reflect on how it worked and what to improve.

This approach fits the scenario because it emphasizes collaborative task completion in a structured, teacher-guided way that promotes authentic language practice. Other terms describe different instructional focuses: the Language Experience Approach centers on turning students’ spoken experiences into literacy work, not specifically on group-task collaboration; Discovery Learning emphasizes student-led exploration with minimal guidance; Guided Practice involves teacher-supported practice, often more individual or whole-group, rather than formal small-group task completion.