Cooperative Learning strategies for the classroom and beyond Cooperative Learning strategies for the classroom and beyond By Tim Robinson

Objectives Go beyond just words and put in practice Go beyond just words and put in practice Implement successful group work Implement successful group work Promote triumphant cooperation instead of aggressive competition Promote triumphant cooperation instead of aggressive competition Be proactive in the English teaching community Be proactive in the English teaching community Support colleagues for professional development Support colleagues for professional development

NO cooperation causes the earth to burn “Every nation now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are against us,” George W. Bush “Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation's fury,” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. "Every American man is an enemy to us," Osama Bin Laden. “ Humanitarianism is the expression of stupidity and cowardice,” Adolf Hitler.

Needs at risk Community Harmony Communication Respect Belonging Frustration Sadness Fear Loneliness Passivity 0% Motivated

“I fear I’ll loose control and there’ll be too much noise or they’ll do the activity badly or not at all.” “My students have no possibility to practice.” “Administration treats me like a dog on the street, they provide no help.” “My boss observes me only when there is a problem.” “I have no support from my colleagues or my students’ parents.” “I can’t put my students in groups, they’ll use too much Spanish.” “We are a passionate people who care about others until we enter the classroom.”

Hope starts with cooperation “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Nelson Mandela “Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.” Mohandas Gandhi Mohandas Gandhi “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “No problem can be solved by the same consciousness that created it. We need to see the world anew.” Albert Einstein

So who is more respected around the world today? Martin Luther king, Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein Martin Luther king, Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Albert EinsteinOR George W. Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Adolf Hitler George W. Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Adolf Hitler

We teach because “You have convictions about the quality of life You are not merely a language teacher You are an agent for change in a world in desperate need of change: change from competition to cooperation, from powerlessness to empowerment, from conflict to resolution, from prejudice to understanding.” (H.D. Brown,)

Cooperative Learning “is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams, each with 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, thus creating an atmosphere of achievement.”

Why cooperative learning? 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 relations (

Advantages Group Work Excuses Brown, D Remember: no activity is too difficult, but the task the students need to complete 1.Generates interactive language 2. Offers affective climate 3. Promotes learner responsibility and autonomy 4.Individualizes instruction 1. T no longer in control of class 2. Students will use too much of native language 3. Errors will be reinforced in small groups 4.T can monitor all groups at once 5. Some learners prefer to work alone

Implementing Group Evaluating classroom language Evaluating classroom language Asking for clarification, agree/disagree, interrupting, Selecting activities Selecting activities Games, role plays, drama, information gap, jigsaw, interviews, brainstorming, problem solving, opinion exchange Procedure Procedure 1. Introduce the technique, 2. justify use of small groups, 3. model the technique, 4. give explicit instructions, 5. divide class, 6. check for clarification, 7. set the task in motion, 8. monitor, 9. process. (Brown, D. 2007) MY Turn MY Turn

Teacher collaboration “The process of continuing to develop your professional expertise as a teacher is sometimes difficult to manage alone. The challenges of teaching in a rapidly changing profession almost necessitate collaboration with other teachers in order to stay on the cutting edge.” (Murphey & Sato, 2005)

DO IT! Peer coaching Peer coaching Team teaching Team teaching Action research Action research Collaborative curriculum development/revision Collaborative curriculum development/revision Presenting at a conference/writing for publication Presenting at a conference/writing for publication Teacher support groups Teacher support groups Have an open mind/give constructive feedback and praise Have an open mind/give constructive feedback and praise

ThanksUPELVenTESOL U.S. embassy Georgetown University All of you of course All of you of course