FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What instructional approach is aimed at fostering group work but does not specify a defined problem?

1. Project-based learning

2. Cooperative learning

3. Inquiry learning

4. Simulations

The correct answer is: Cooperative learning

The instructional approach focused on fostering group work without specifying a defined problem is cooperative learning. This strategy emphasizes collaboration among students in small groups, encouraging them to work together toward a shared goal. Cooperative learning is characterized by its emphasis on peer interaction and collective responsibility for learning outcomes, where each group member contributes to the group's success, facilitating skills like communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution. This approach is less about solving a particular defined problem and more about instilling a sense of community among learners while promoting engagement. Students can be given a variety of tasks or objectives to achieve as a group, allowing them to explore different methods of collaboration without the confines of a specific problem to solve. Other instructional approaches like project-based learning, inquiry learning, and simulations tend to involve a more structured setting with specific problems or projects for students to work on. In those cases, learners typically focus on specific questions, projects, or realistic scenarios requiring critical thinking to arrive at a solution.