Improving Science Teaching through the Use of Cooperative and Collaborative Instructional Strategies

Abstract

Instructional strategies are teaching methods used by instructors to improve students' learning, develop critical thinking skills and keep students on task. With an increasing awareness that many undergraduates are passive during teaching sessions calls for instructional strategies that would allow learning to be student centered,where students will be actively involved in the learning process.In other to achieve this aim,the use of cooperative and collaborative instructional strategies where students work in small groups and are active constructors of their knowledge was introduced.Thus,the purpose of this work is based on the role cooperative and collaborative instructional strategies play in improving science teaching. Areas where these cooperative and collaborative instructional strategies can be applied were discussed, benefits and challenges of using cooperative and collaborative instructional strategies were stated and suggestive recommendations were made.