Introduction to Cooperative Learning Principles of Teaching Payam Shoghi http://payamshoghi.com/
Nov 22, 2014
Introduction toCooperative Learning
Principles of Teaching
Payam Shoghihttp://payamshoghi.com/
Cooperative Learning?* Definition *
“An instructional arrangement in which small groups or teams of students work together to achieve team-success in a manner that promotes the students’ responsibility for their own learning as well as the learning of others.
[Mercer & Mercer, 2001]
What is Cooperative Learning?
Superior to individual/competitive learning Students work together in small groups to
maximize their own and each other’s learning Provides students the opportunity to practice
skills or learn content given by teacher Largest empirical and research base of any
educational innovation
What Cooperative Learningis NOT?
Any group-work is NOT cooperative learning. If not done well… Groups get into conflicts and power struggles A member sits quietly, too shy to participate One member does the work, while the other
members talk about unrelated things A more talented member comes up with all the
answers, dictates to the group, or works separately, ignoring other group members
Cooperative Learning needs to be Structured
It does not occur by chance Facilitate learning; don’t allow things to just
happen Cannot be based on the assumption that all
students have proper social and learning skills Occurs best only when essential components
for each cooperative learning activity are ensured
Need to be learned, practiced and mastered
Three Standards of Cooperative Learning
Active Listening
Happy Talk
Everyone Participates
Teaching Methodology in Cooperative Learning
Explain
Demonstrate
Practice
Six Key Elements of Cooperative Learning
Teams Classroom Management Will to Cooperate Skill to Cooperate Four Basic Principles Cooperative Learning Structures
Concept 1: Teams
What is a Cooperative team?
Strong, positive team identity among students
Four members (preferably)
Endures over time
Heterogeneous
Teams learn to learn together
Concept 1: Teams…
How are teams formed?
Based on friendships or interests? – Can have discipline problems; exclusivity: leaving others out
Random teams? – Can end up with four low achievers on the same team
Teacher assigned heterogeneous teams?–Maximize the probability of peer tutoring and improving diverse-background and cross-gender relations
Concept 1: Teams…
How big should teams be?
Four per team: Allows pairs work which doubles participation
Teams of more than four do not allow for enough participation and are harder to manage
Concept 2: Management
Room and Seating Arrangement Quiet Signal Class Rules and Consequences Giving Positive Attention Teacher and Student Modeling Blackboard Management
Concept 3: Will to Cooperate
Three ways in which the will to cooperate is created and maintained:Teambuilding
Classbuilding
Task and reward structures, including recognition systems
Concept 3: Will to Cooperate…
Teambuilding and Classbuilding
Team and classbuilding provide unique learning experiences not offered by traditional methods that focus only on academic content
Found in workplace–should be in classrooms too
Concept 4: Skill to Cooperate
Developing Social Skills (a defining characteristic of Cooperative Learning)Modeling
Defining
Reinforcing
Role-playing
Structures
Reflection (debriefing)
Concept 5: Basic Principles
Four Basic Principles of Cooperative Learning
Positive Interdependence
Individual Accountability
Equal Participation
Simultaneous Interaction
Concept 5: Basic Principles…
Positive Interdependence
The success of every team member is not possible without success/contributions of each
The success of a team is not possible without success or contribution of each member
Concept 5: Basic Principles…
Individual Accountability
Each student is responsible for a unique portion of a team’s learning product
Whatever the form of individual accountability, the contribution of each individual is valuable to the team
Concept 5: Basic Principles…
Equal Participation
Every student is actively involved in the learning process
No passive learners
Success of the team depends on participation of all team members
Concept 5: Basic Principles…
Simultaneous Interaction
Discuss Topics: All students discuss views in pairs
Share Answers: All students engage in choral response
Receive Help: Students ask a teammate and receive immediate help
Three Basic Types ofStructures
Mastery
Thinking Skills
Information Sharing
Examples of Cooperative Learning Structures
Agreement Circles Blind Sequencing Circle-the-Sage Corners Fan-N-Pick Find My Rule Find Someone Who Find the Fib Flashcard Game
Cooperative Learning Structures… Formations Four “S” Brainstorming Idea Spinner Jigsaw Problem Solving Line Ups Match Mine Mix N Match One Stray Pairs Check
Common Cooperative Learning Structures
Inside/Outside Circle Numbered Heads Together Round Robin Think-Pair-Share Timed-Pair-Share Think-Pair-Write-Share Pair-Discussion Pair-Discussion-Share Group Discussion
Benefits of Cooperative Learning Teambuilding and cooperation Breaking down of differences Development of social skills Provides for more than one “teacher” Mastery Higher Order Thinking skills Communication skills Better comprehension and longer retention Children enjoy learning Enhanced classroom discipline Students motivated as effort is acknowledged
Superior to Traditional ApproachesCooperative Group Traditional GroupPositive interdependence No interdependenceIndividual accountability No individual accountabilityHeterogeneous Random/HomogeneousShared leadership One leaderResponsible to each other Responsibly only for selfTask and effort emphasized Only task emphasizedSocial skills directly taught Skills assumed or ignoredActive teacher supervision Teacher teaches contentGroup processing occurs No group processingMutual assistance Individual/competitive work
From traditional to Cooperative Learning
“A good class is a quiet class.”
•“Learning involves healthy noise.”
“Do your own work.”
•“Help your partner learn/solve.”
“Sit quietly.”
•“Get up and look at what the others did.”
Cooperative Learning supports the Learning Principle
I Hear – I Forget I See – I Remember I Do – I Learn I Discover – I Understand
Cooperative Learning ensures the students are using all their faculties while learning and therefore learn better.
Thus, students benefit not only from WHAT they are learning but also from HOW they learn.
Cooperative Games
Same principles as Cooperative Learning Not just any game is ‘Cooperative Game’ These are specific games designed after
years of experimentation and observation Help teach children cooperation and key
moral values Nobody wins or loses in these games Care should be taken not to make these
games competitive