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Cooperative Learning

Page history last edited by Mrs. Train 6 years, 6 months ago

Cooperative Learning is an instructional strategy of group work where each student is given a specific role. The concept is meant to maximize individual and group learning.

Strategies for Implementing Cooperative Learning

Please share ideas!

Teachers choose the groups - mix up students by strength in the subject, by how introverted or extroverted they are, or by aptitude (eg. strong reader, artistic, etc.) or have homogeneous groups which allow you to differentiate the assignment. You can also keep it fun by choosing based on birthdays, alphabet, or even shoe size! Keep them guessing. If you let students choose groups, keep an eye on dynamics and make sure that nobody feels left out.

Establish Expectations - Review what everyone will be doing and the various roles. Discuss how to resolve problems. Model your expectations.

Everyone Participates - Some roles, such as timekeeper and the person who gets supplies, don't contribute to the project. Everyone needs to understand that although they have a specific card (role), they also much participate in gathering ideas and in discussions. Students who are more comfortable with solitary work may wish to take on researcher, notetaker or others that they complete by themselves, and bring their contribution back to the group.

Keep a Log - Record your observations and conversations. Note who is contributing and who is sitting back.

Have students give their group a name - It gives them a sense of camaraderie and even competition.

Include Self and Group Reflection - have students reflect on their own contributions and the successes of the group.

Role Card Template: Collaborative_Learning_Role_Cards.docx

Created by Mrs. Train for PD in 2015

Extensive list of roles: http://www.context.org/iclib/ic09/fcl/

Tech Tools for Use with Cooperative Learning

Wiki - this website is a wiki. It uses the same technology as Wikipedia, in that anyone with permission can create and edit content. Ask individual groups to create wikis as part of their group project. You can break down the content into segments so that everyone creates a page, or you can assign an A/V person to create the wiki. Be sure to have them add you to the wiki so that you can check the page history and comment. To register, go to http://www.pbworks.com
Google Drive - a terrific tool for collaboration, as documents can be edited by all members of the group. Have the group add you, the teacher, so that you can follow their progress and see who is contributing by reviewing the history.

TitanPad is a free tool that allows a group to create an online place to collaboratively create documents. No registration is required. Students can chat in real-time while creating a document. Teachers can track student input because every person's notes appears in a different colour. For more information on using TitanPad, visit Free Technology for Teachers: Try TitanPad for Quickly Creating a Set of Group Notes.