Cooperative learning is a type of instruction where students work together in small groups to achieve a common goal. There are five key features of successful cooperative learning: students learn they rely on each other; students are accountable as individuals and as a group; students support each other through interactions; students develop social skills through cooperation; and students reflect on their effectiveness. The document provides suggestions for implementing cooperative learning such as establishing group roles and norms, balancing student status, and providing demanding tasks that require cooperation.