Basic Principles

of PIES
Kagan Cooperative Learning
and the Principles of PIES

WHAT IS
PIES?
The PIES principles are what set cooperative
learning apart from other approaches to
instruction and are reasons successful
cooperative learning occurs. PIES stands for

Positive Interdependence
Individual Accountability
Equal participation
Simultaneous Interaction

WHERE DO WE FIND PIES?

These four basic principles are unique to Kagan

Cooperative Learning.
Other learning approaches recognize the P and the
I, Positive Interdependence and Individual
Accountability.
But Equal Participation and Simultaneous
Interaction are often not addressed, or are only
addressed minimally.

THERE ARE BASIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN

GROUP WORK AND KAGANS COOPERATIVE
LEARNING USING PIES PRINCIPLES.
Not to be confused with group work, the PIES principles
distinguish cooperative learning from group learning.
Group work does not consistently produce positive results.
Cooperative learning produces consistent gains from all
learners.

FIVE QUESTIONS THAT HELP EXPLAIN THE

PIES PRINCIPLES

By answering these five questions

we can
determine if PIES are in place.

The PIES critical questions

Positive Interdependence

Question 1. Are students on the same side?

Question 2. Does the task require working together?

Individual Accountability

Question 3. Is individual, public performance required?

Equal Participation

Question 4. Is participation approximately equal?

Simultaneous Interaction

Question 5. What percent of students are overtly interacting at once?

WHAT EXACTLY DOES EACH PRINCIPLE MEAN AND HOW IS

IT IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE KAGAN COOPERATIVE
LEARNING MODEL?

Cooperative learning at work

POSITIVE INTERDEPENDENCE
In the classroom, when positive interdependence is in
place, individuals have every opportunity to
cooperate.
Positive interdependence refers to two distinct conditions that
promote cooperation:
A. A positive correlation of outcomes, and
B. Interdependence.
Click on the video to further
understand types of
positive interdependence

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
In the classroom, students work together as a team to create
and to learn, but ultimately every individual student is
responsible for his or her own performance.

Individual Accountability is created by putting in place three

components:

Individual. The performance is done without help.

Public. Someone witnesses the performance.

Required. The performance is required.

EQUAL PARTICIPATION
The simplest of the four principles, equal participation is
accomplished by structuring the cooperative learning such that
students participate as close to equally as can be made.
Equal Participation can be accomplished by incorporating six
approaches.

Turn taking.

Time allocation.

Think time.

Rules.

Individual accountability.

Role assignment.

EQUAL PARTICIPATION
By using Kagans cooperative learning structures, creating equal participation becomes very
attainable. With the structures, turn taking and time allocation becomes possible for all class
members.
Think time increases many times from only one second to three to five seconds, allowing the
students many more opportunities to participate. Having rules equalizes participation. They
guarantee participation by all.
Individual accountability equalizes participation when student are held accountable for
participation. When a student realizes his peers will see what he has created, he is more likely to
participate. When students are assigned unique roles to complete a task, then equal participation
occurs to finish the assignment.
Watch the video below to see how the way you
teach has an effect on participation by your students.

SIMULTANEOUS INTERACTION
Simultaneous interaction is the most powerful tool within
Kagan cooperative learning that increases active
engagement.
Simultaneous interaction engages a much higher percentage of students at once.

Effective cooperative learning produces simultaneous instead of sequential

engagement.
Interacting over learning content (overt interaction) is more desirable than
spending more time on task.
Focusing on simultaneous interaction and therefore overt interaction assures
that there is increased engagement in the class.

SIMULTANEOUS
INTERACTION IN
ACTION

Watch the video to see how

effective simultaneous
interaction can be.

SUMMING UP KAGANS PIES

PRINCIPLES
PIES principles are inherent in the Kagan structures.
By utilizing Kagan structures in our cooperative learning
classrooms, we will consistently make gains in the overall
education of our students. Think-Pair-Share is a perfect
example of a Kagan structure that exemplifies Kagans
PIES Principles.
By utilizing these principles we are developing a
supportive, cooperative class that we can assess on an
ongoing basis.
PIES principles offers insight and point the way to
implementing successful cooperative learning.
Ultimately they help us all become better educators.

REFERENCES
Cafedurhamcollege. (2010, December 3). Think-Pair-Share [Video File]. Retrieved
from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGCyk_QaC0I
Kagan, S., Kagan, M. (2009). Kagan cooperative learning. San Clemente, Ca: Kagan
Publishing.

McGillOSD. (2012, August 28). Participation [Video File]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfAwhOsYwz0

Regentctl1. (2012, July 12). Types of Positive Interdependence [Video File].

Retrieved
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaxCwpw9J0U
Taborration. (2011, June 22). Simultaneous Interaction in Tabor Rotation [Video
File].
Retrievedfrom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTNTJDI8X1U