Which teaching strategy encourages students to collaborate and learn from each other?

Cooperative learning is a teaching strategy that emphasizes collaboration among students, allowing them to work together on tasks or projects. This approach fosters an environment where students can share diverse perspectives and knowledge, leading to deeper understanding through dialogue and teamwork. By engaging in group activities, students are encouraged to support one another, take on various roles, and develop communication skills. This method not only enhances individual learning outcomes but also builds social skills and camaraderie among peers.

In contrast, direct instruction typically involves a teacher-centered approach where the instructor delivers content directly to students, limiting opportunities for peer interaction. Independent study focuses on individual learning, where students work alone rather than collaborating with others, which reduces the benefits of shared insights. Lecture-based learning primarily involves the teacher presenting information to a passive audience, which does not encourage interaction or cooperative exploration of ideas.