Team Size
Depending on the nature of the task associated with a particular ETE module, cooperative teams may have two, three, or four students. Pairing is ideal because it maximizes student participation. Pairs start to work easily and tend to maintain involvement. Pairs tend to make less noise than larger teams. Occasionally a pair of students working together will have a task they are unable to complete by themselves, in which case they can ask another pair for help.

However, there are times when more input is needed than a pair is likely to be able to generate. When a task calls for much creativity or many different perspectives, use teams of three or four. Teams larger than four may lead to passive participation (Harmin, 1994).

References
Harmin, M. (1994). Inspiring active learning: a handbook for teachers. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

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Last updated January 11, 1999