Cooperative Learning in the University Classroom

Abstract

As educators in park and recreation studies, we need to be open to new and creative teaching techniques in order to add variety to our classes and to facilitate learning in our classrooms. The purpose of this article is to offer an alternative teaching method and to provide examples of classroom experiences. Specifically, this article examines the use of cooperative learning in the recreation classroom. Examples are provided to illustrate the use of cooperative learning to teach the history of park and recreation and a jigsaw learning experience will be used in teaching a course unit on campus, military, and employee recreation. The final example describes a role playing technique used to examine Brandenburg's barriers to leisure.

Keywords:

• Cooperative learning
• teaching methods
• classroom experiences

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ben F. Tholkes

Bibliographic Information

Ben Tholkes and Maurice Phipps are Assistant Professors at Western Carolina University, Park and Recreation Management, Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723.

Maurice Phipps

Bibliographic Information

Ben Tholkes and Maurice Phipps are Assistant Professors at Western Carolina University, Park and Recreation Management, Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723.