Cooperative Learning What is it?

Classroom Structures Win-lose struggle…competition among peers Win-lose struggle…competition among peers Work independently of peers…individualism Work independently of peers…individualism Work cooperatively in small groups…cooperation Work cooperatively in small groups…cooperation

Cooperative Learning Working together to accomplish shared goals Working together to accomplish shared goals Outcomes beneficial to themselves and group members Outcomes beneficial to themselves and group members “Cooperative Learning is the instructional use of small groups that allows students to work together to maximize their own and each other’s learning.” (ACSD website) “Cooperative Learning is the instructional use of small groups that allows students to work together to maximize their own and each other’s learning.” (ACSD website)

Five Essential Components 1. Positive Interdependence Linked together, all for one, one for all attitude. Linked together, all for one, one for all attitude. I cannot succeed unless you succeed I cannot succeed unless you succeed Together we stand, divided we fall. Together we stand, divided we fall. Motto of the American Revolution Motto of the American Revolution

Components cont. 2. Promotive Interaction Students promote other’s success by helping, assisting, supporting encouraging, and praising each other’s efforts to learn. Students promote other’s success by helping, assisting, supporting encouraging, and praising each other’s efforts to learn. Oral explanation of problems, discussing concepts, teaching to each other, connecting present and past learning Oral explanation of problems, discussing concepts, teaching to each other, connecting present and past learning

Components cont. 3. Individual Accountability Learn together to perform better as an individual Learn together to perform better as an individual Ensures that group members know who needs more assistance, support and encouragement in completing tasks. Ensures that group members know who needs more assistance, support and encouragement in completing tasks.

Components cont. 4. Interpersonal and small group skills Task work academic work…and small group skills teamwork. Task work academic work…and small group skills teamwork. More complex then competitive or individualistic learning More complex then competitive or individualistic learning Leadership, decision making, trust-building, communication, and conflict management must be taught as well as academic learning Leadership, decision making, trust-building, communication, and conflict management must be taught as well as academic learning

Components cont. 5. Group Processing Group members discuss how well their achieving goals and maintaining effective working relationships. Group members discuss how well their achieving goals and maintaining effective working relationships. What’s helpful or hurtful in group setting. What’s helpful or hurtful in group setting.

Teaching Cooperative Skills “How to manage conflicts?” “How to manage conflicts?” Cooperation and conflict go hand in hand…? Cooperation and conflict go hand in hand…? Group members that care about group goals, and care about each other will encounter conflicts. Group members that care about group goals, and care about each other will encounter conflicts. Conflicts handled correctly can add fun, creativity, higher-level reasoning. Flip side is anger, frustration, and hostility Conflicts handled correctly can add fun, creativity, higher-level reasoning. Flip side is anger, frustration, and hostility

Cooperative Skills Controversy Peer mediation Peer mediation All students are taught how to negotiate solutions to their conflict All students are taught how to negotiate solutions to their conflict Academic controversy Academic controversy Students challenge each other’s intellectual reasoning with their own…argue the different sides. Students challenge each other’s intellectual reasoning with their own…argue the different sides.

Gaining Experience using Cooperative Learning Knowledge about how to do something is not a skill…Being able to do something well is a skill. Knowledge about how to do something is not a skill…Being able to do something well is a skill. Time and effort to develop Time and effort to develop “Nothing new that is really interesting comes without collaboration” James Watson Nobel Prize winner “Nothing new that is really interesting comes without collaboration” James Watson Nobel Prize winner Aristotle “For things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.” Aristotle “For things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.”