Active Learning Activities that Work! Cooperative Learning for the College Reading Classroom Joyce Hamilton Tammi Naumann Adalia Reyna South Texas College Department of Developmental Reading Mid-Valley Campus Weslaco, Texas

South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus Weslaco, Texas Where is STC? The Rio Grande Valley of Texas, a few miles from the Mexican border. Campuses are in Mc Allen, Rio Grande City, and Weslaco. Who are our students? Just under 20,000 students enrolled at STC this fall. Approximately 8,000 are enrolled in Developmental Studies courses (Reading, Math, English).

Our students Average age: early to mid-20’s (Fall semesters: majority are recent high school graduates from local high schools. Typically, they are 18 to 20 years old.) Approximately 90% are Hispanic. 62% female, 38% male. “Older” students, working parents: tend to enroll more often in afternoon, evening, and weekend classes. Most students work part-time to full-time. “PCP” population (no on-campus dorms) “Parking lot to classroom to parking lot” Developmental Reading is required of students who have not scored at a level designating “college-readiness” on one of the specified standardized assessments, usually THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) or Accuplacer.

Our training in active learning strategies: College-wide commitment to cooperative learning strategies in the classroom. Vincent Tinto presentation for all STC faculty in 2003 Division-wide training in 2004 by the Kagan Institute Reading department training by Dr. Janet Elder, Ph. D. in 2004 Division-wide training by Johnson and Johnson in 2005

Why Active Learning Approach? Generation X and “ Net Generation” Brain research and learning

PIGS Positive Interdependence Individual Accountability Group Processing Social Skills Concept presented by Dr. Janet Elder in STC training session.

A thought-provoking quote… “Without the cooperation of its members, society cannot survive, and the society of man has survived because the cooperativeness of its members made survival possible… it was not an advantageous individual here and there who did so, but the group. In human societies, the individuals who are most likely to survive are those who are best enabled to do so by their group.” Ashley Montagu, 1965

Without further ado, let’s get started! Joyce Hamilton PATTERNS OF ORGANIZATION (Time or Sequential Order; Listing or List of Items)

Time Order & Listing You are planning a party for (choose one): a.A 50 year-old friend or family member b.A 5 year-old child c.An 80 year-old grandparent or parent d.A 19 year-old friend

Task 1 Make a list of supplies. Make a LIST of at least 5 supplies you will need for this party

Task 2 Prepare for the party. Now begin preparing for the party. Write down the first 5 steps you will take, in order. (What you will do first; what you will do next; and so on.) Step 1. Step 2. Step 3. Step 4. Step 5.

From list to paragraph… Turn your list of supplies for the party into paragraph form. (5 to 6 sentences in length) You are creating a paragraph with the LISTING (or list of items) pattern. Use Addition words to show transition. Use the word chart in your handout.

ADDITION WORDS (Used in the Listing pattern) First One Last Another Also Finally Furthermore In addition

From steps to paragraph… Turn your party preparation steps into a paragraph showing TIME ORDER. (5 to 6 sentences in length) Use Time Order words to show transition from one step to the next. Use words from the chart in your handout.

TIME Words (Used in the Sequential Order pattern) First Second Next After Then Finally Before

Tammi Naumann The Flip-side of Inferences

Questions? Handouts THANK YOU!

To contact us for handouts, etc. Joyce Hamilton: Adalia Reyna: Tammi Naumann: