- group sizes should remain small (2 - 4 members), when students are first being
  introduced to cooperative learning

- groups meeting regularly over an extended period of time are more likely to be
  successful when compared to groups who only meet occasionally

- students can be grouped together in different ways for different purposes

- achievement vs. work groups
 
   i) achievement groups are homogeneous groups based on achievement levels in
      order to organize instruction to match the students' needs

   ii) work groups are more heterogeneous and are formed to promote social
       interaction in addition to academic outcomes

- mixed-gender groups tend to be more successful

- also effective are:  cross-age grouping and mixed-ability grouping

- low-achieving students increase their performance in heterogeneous groups

- see p.165 Teaching & learning through multiple intelligences
 

- Roles:  noise monitor, turn-taking monitor, recorder, checker, summarizer,
  researcher etc.

- introducing roles - i.e. analogy of a sports team