Faculty Development Presentation August 27, 2009

Together we stand...divided we fall. - Watchword of the American Revolution

 Discover what is already KNOWN about cooperative learning  Investigate the “whats and hows” of cooperative learning and apply to the college classroom  Explore active learning strategies within a lecture and discuss how to apply to the college classroom  Apply ‘base groups’ to the classroom to support student engagement and attendance

Find the other 3 people who have the same symbols as you do. (These three people will be VERY important to you today. ) Move your materials and get comfortable.

Please share information about you to your base group. Topics:  Your name and what you teach  What is one of the best books you have ever read?  What is the farthest place you have traveled to?  Who was your favorite teacher? Why?

An example: “People Bag”

? What are some strategies you use to activate student learning during a lecture? ? How do you use group work in your assignments and classroom setting? ? When you have consistent attendance in your class, what are the 2-3 factors that support students responsibility to coming to class and completing assignments? On your own!

1. What are some issues facing you as a teacher in relation to your students? 2. Why do you want to teach?

? What are some strategies you use to activate student learning during a lecture? ? How do you use group work in your assignments and classroom setting? ? When you have consistent attendance in your class, what are the 2-3 factors that support students responsibility to coming to class and completing assignments? With your group!

“What people can do together today, they can do alone tomorrow.” -Vygotsky

This is what I KNOW about cooperative Learning: I have QUESTIONS about regarding Cooperative Learning...and they are:

 Individual  Competitive  Cooperative

Definition: The instructional use of small groups where students work together to maximize their own and each other’s learning

Positive interdependence Face to Face Interaction Individual Accountability Social Skills-interpersonal/small group Group processing -CELEBRATION-

Examine each of the five components ( Each team member select 1of the 5. First done will take the 5 th component) Write a sentence to describe your component. All be prepared to share a summary of each of the 5 components. As a group, create a mnemonic to remember the five components. Remember to encourage one another!

The role T- Charts ??? What do you think are important social skills for the setting you are currently in??

G ive your ideasTake responsibility R espect othersEffort O n taskAct U se quiet voicesMaturity P articipate S tay in Group

Negotiation Managing Shared Leadership Trust Seek to understand

Simply placing students in groups and telling them to work together Assuming they know how to cooperate Assuming that even if they know what “cooperative” means... that they will work cooperatively

Groups may seek a “free ride”... Leaving it to one member to do all the work. Students who get “stuck” may decrease their efforts to avid being suckers! High achievers take over to benefit themselves.. At the expense of others ( “Matthew effect”)

Group work may break down due to power struggles and conflict Inappropriate dependence on authority may exist Group members may “gang up” against a task Dysfunctional division of labor may evolve

BOGGLE!!!

Specifying Outcomes Deciding on Group Size Assigning students to groups Assigning roles to ensure interdependence Arranging the room Planning the Instructional Materials

 Group Size is best!  Grouping Criteria ◦ Heterogeneous ◦ Homogenous ◦ Work habits.. Learning style.. ◦ Random ◦ Student choice

Formal: Following the 5 components Informal : (examples) Roundtable Numbered Heads together Think - Pair – Share Tiny Teach

Remember “Celebrate PIGS Face” Consider: ◦ Tasks/Goals ◦ Cooperative structure ◦ Criteria for success ◦ Individual Accountability ◦ Expected Behaviors

50 minute class (example) TimeActivity 15 “Base Group meeting 30” Lecture with Informal C L 5” Base Group Meeting OR 5” Base Group Meeting 35” Formal CL groups work on Assignment 5” Base Group Meeting

90 minute class (example) TimeActivity 10”Base Group meeting 25” Direct Teaching with Informal CL 40” Formal CL groups work on Assignment 10” Direct Teaching with Informal CL 5” Closing Base Group Meeting

 Explaining the Academic task  Explaining Criteria for success  Structuring Positive Interdependence  Structuring Individual Accountability  Structuring Intergroup cooperation  Specifying Desired Behaviors

Divide up the strategies. Be ready to share at least one with your group so that everyone understands. Be ready to discuss any of the strategies shared. As a group, vote on one strategy that most of you may be able to use.

Do...or Do Not... There is no try!_ Yoda

Nothing new that is really interesting comes without collaboration. _ James Watson, Noble Prize winner ( co-discoverer of the double helix)

Direct teaching The lecture Activated learning WITHIN the lecture

IntroductionBodyConclusion “ Tell them what you are going to tell them... Then tell them.... Then tell them what you told them”

 Disseminate information  Present information not otherwise available  Expose students to different points of view  Arouse interest in the subject  Expose and integrate information  Teach students who are primarily auditory learners PAIR DISCUSSION!!

 Students’ attention decreases as lecture proceeds  Requires auditory skills to benefit  Tends to promote lower level learning of factual information  Does not differentiate for the learner  Students tend not to like it  Generalizes the cognitive abilities of the learners PAIR DISCUSSION!!

Introductory Focused Discussion Meet at the beginning – share what you know- set expectations Example: “ Question Answer Pairs” Intermittent Discussion Pairs Pause during the lecture- actively process what is presented. Answer questions posed- give reaction – elaborate on past learning Example: “Cooperative Note-taking Pairs”

Closure Focused Discussions Give pairs or small groups the task of having an ending discussion... Discuss what they learned, how they will use the information and lead them to homework Example: Implementation Assignment

 Choose one informal CL strategy  Apply to your discipline  Teach to your group  Choose one from your group  Send a messenger

Love is Loyalty. Love is teamwork. Love respects the dignity of the individual. Heart power is the strength of your corporation. _ Vince Lombardi

 Group size  Assigning students  Arranging the room  Preparing Materials  Assigning Roles

Let’s examine! 1. What are some base group basics? 2. Why use base groups? 3. What issues / concerns could base groups address?

On your own: 1. Jot down 5 words that come to mind regarding this morning’s session 2. In your group: Chose 3 words from your group 3. In your group: Now choose 1 word to share with the whole group.

Please answer the following questions on an index card: 1. “The major point I learned today is…” 2. “The main unanswered question I still have is…” 3. “Here is something I will use...” 4. Recommendations for the future include...