Grouping for Instruction Involvement and Interaction
Context Physical environment Scheduling Socioemotional environment
Content Skill outcomes Attitude and value outcomes Outcomes of the grouping process Interpersonal skills Cooperative work habits
Learner Varying student roles Varying student involvement
Grouping Decisions Assignment to groups Group size
Group Sizes
Cooperative Learning The instructional use of small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each other’s learning.
Why? Students’ learning goals can be structured to promote cooperative, competitive, or individual efforts. –Cooperative -- A positive interdependence among students’ goal attainment. –Competitive -- A negative interdependence among students’ goal attainment. –Individual – A focus on self-interest and personal success.
How? “I only succeed when everyone else succeeds.” “We all share and help each other learn.” “The group is responsible for completing the task, and I am responsible for doing my share.” “All of the members of my group have to work together as a team.” “We all have to discuss how we’re doing and if we need to change anything.”
The Research Findings Johnson, Johnson, & Stane (2000). –Meta-analysis of 164 studies involving 8 methods –Although methods vary, all were more effective in promoting learning that competitive or individualistic learning. –Studies were rated on five criteria
Ratings of Methods Method Learn Initial UseMaintainRobustAdaptabilityTotal Learning Together TGT Group Investigation Academic Controversy Jigsaw STAD TAI CIRC Complex Instruction Cooperative Structures