Janet Branchaw Carol Hurney Jenny Knight Alix Dardin Cooperative Learning Janet Branchaw Carol Hurney Jenny Knight Alix Dardin
Cooperative Learning, a teaching strategy in which small teams, each with different students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject. Each member of a team is responsible not only for learning what is taught, but also for helping teammates learn.
Learning Paradigms Student-student classroom interactions Common characteristics A) Competitive learning - work individually - common learning goals/tasks - grading via norm-referenced methods (eg, grading on a curve) B) Individualistic learning individualized learning goals grading via criteria-referenced methods (eg, rubric-based) C) Cooperative learning - work in small groups shared learning goals, can be similar or different from other groups graded on group work as well as individual work
Why Cooperative Learning? Research has shown that cooperative learning techniques: promote student learning and academic achievement increase student retention enhance student satisfaction with their learning experience help students develop skills in oral communication develop students’ social skills promote student self-esteem help to promote positive race relations
Elements of Cooperative Learning Positive Interdependence Face-to-Face Interaction Individual and Group Accountability Interpersonal and Small-Group Skills Group Processing
Examples of Cooperative Learning Jigsaw Think-Pair-Share Guided Reciprocal Peer Questioning Three-Step Interview Round Robin Brainstorming Group Projects Three-Minute Review Numbered Heads Together Team Pair Solo Circle the Sage Partners
Web Sites: Cooperative Learning http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm Study Guides and Strategies (group projects) http://www.studygs.net/cooplearn.htm Foundation Coalition http://www.foundationcoalition.org/home/keycomponents/collaborative_learning.html Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative at University of British Columbia