Cooperative learning methods are important both to facilitate the teaching-learning process and to prepare people for working in teams who are committed to social values and the principles of solidarity. This study aimed to investigate to what extent cooperative methods influenced the development of cooperative attitudes among pupils at school and undergraduate students, with respect to both the learning of chemistry scientific subject matter and the development of ethical attitudes related to this science. After analysing two theoretical perspectives - developmental and motivational - we point out the importance of the existence of diversity in methods in providing teachers with a broad range of alternatives. We also recommend the combined utilisation of methods in such a way as to promote both the cognitive development and the ethical education of citizens.
cooperative learning; Chemistry teaching