ote learning" (Zemelman, Daniels, and Hyde, 1993, p. 11).
Promoting a cooperative learning environment not only nurtures student learning, it helps prepare students for the world of work. Group problem-solving is an important skill in today's global economy. Students must possess the ability to consider a diverse range of viewpoints in increasingly collaborative work environments.
Cooperative learning, when introduced at an early age, can provide an alternative to aggressive behavior and violence. When students exhibit positive socialization and cooperative behaviors, there is a tendency for an increase in self-esteem. One reason for this increase is that the student discovers hidden talents and interests. This paves the way toward more personal engagement in the education process since human beings generally learn those things that interest them. As Dewey (1972) puts it, "The interest is always the sign of some power below; the important thing is to discover this power" (p. 93). If a student is not interested in school, because of lack of ab
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