1. Kagan Basic Principles (PIES)
By Julie Neuner

2. Kagan Cooperative Learning Basic Principals (PIES)
Positive Interdependence
Individual Accountability
Equal Participation
Simultaneous Interaction
Kagan Cooperative Learning has been around for over twenty-five years. Dr. Spencer Kagan is passionate about cooperative learning and the importance of students working in cooperative teams. He has researched and revised Kagan cooperative learning structures and principles over the length of his career. This presentation is an overview of the Basic Principles of Kagan cooperative learning best remembered by the acronym PIES. “The set of four basic principles, PIES, are unique to Kagan Cooperative Learning and are what set cooperative learning apart from other approaches to instruction” (Kagan, 2009, p. 12.1).

3. Positive Interdependence
Definition: “Positive interdependence refers to two distinct conditions that promote cooperation: 1) a positive correlation of outcomes, and 2) interdependence” (Kagan, 2009).
Critical questions:
Positive Correlation: Are students on the same side?
Interdependence: Does the task require working together?
The definition of positive interdependence refers to two distinct conditions that are present to promote cooperation as explained by Kagan. Positive correlation means learners are working together by cooperating and encouraging each other. Interdependence means the learning task takes two to complete. Positive correlation doesn’t necessarily mean interdependence is a given. Tasks must be created so that students need to rely on one another for success to achieve interdependence. Critical questions to ensure positive interdependence is in place according to Kagan (2009).

4. Individual Accountability
Individual – performance must be done without help.
Public – someone sees the performance.
Required – Performance is required.
According to Kagan (2009) there are three components of individual accountability: 1) Individual – done without help; 2) Public – someone witnesses the performance; 3) Required – performance is required. Critical question to ensure individual accountability is in place in the classroom according to Kagan (2009).
Critical question:
Is individual, public performance required?

5. Equal Participation
Definition: Equal participation is about taking turns; time allocation; thinking & writing time; rules & roles; and individual accountability.
Critical question:
Is participation about equal?
Kagan (2009) presents six approaches to make sure participation is equal: 1) turn taking; 2) time allocation; 3) think & write time; 4) rules; 5) roles; and 6) individual accountability. A critical question to ask is are students equally participating when working in cooperative teams or with partners.

6. Simultaneous Interaction
Critical question:
What percent of students are clearly interacting at once?
Definition: Simultaneous interaction ensures all students are actively engaged in learning
According to Kagan (2009) simultaneous interaction is a great way to ensure students stay on task. When students are motivated and engaged in learning they are equipped for powerful learning experiences. In a cooperative learning classroom students are all actively learning and engaged in the process. This is very different than the traditional teacher lecture classroom. Critical questions to ensure positive interdependence is in place according to Kagan (2009).

7. Timed Pair Share Question #1: Are students on the same side? Yes!
Question #2: Does the task require working together? Yes!
Question #3: Is individual, public performance required? Yes!
Question #4: Is participation approximately equal? Yes! Equal
Question #5: What percent of students are clearly interacting at once? 50%
Using a Kagan structure like Timed Pair Share really supports PIES principles. By asking the five critical questions presented with each of the PIES principles teachers can really evaluate their classrooms structures to determine if they are effectively using cooperative learning.
Question #1: Are students on the same side? Yes ! Teammates share ideas with each other.
Question #2: Does the task require working together? Yes ! Students are taking turns listening and sharing.
Question #3: Is individual, public performance required? Yes ! Yes, twice. Once when the student has an allotted time to share, and again when they paraphrase and respond to their partner.
Question #4: Is participation approximately equal? Yes ! Students share and listen in equal time intervals.
Question #5: What percent of students are clearly interacting at once? 50%, because one student per pair is sharing.

8. Kagan Structures Support PIES
“Cooperative learning structures… Organizes classroom instruction, is content free & repeatable, and implements PIES” (Kagan, 2009)
RallyRobin
Timed Pair Share
Numbered Heads Together
Kagan (2009) Structures that work well in cooperative learning for building positive interdependence environments. These are just a few structures that work well and support the basic PIES principles. Essentially all structures have some element of PIES and can be used with success for cooperative learning experiences in classrooms.
In summary: PIES is a tool teachers can use to evaluate instruction in their classrooms. PIES helps teachers know when some adjustments need to be made with cooperative learning teams. Consider PIES helps teachers reflect and look for more effective ways to instruct students for the most academic learning time on task which leads to the most student success!

9. Summary
Cooperative learning provides solutions for four crises in education:
The Achievement Crisis
The Race Relations Crisis
The Achievement Gap Crisis
The Social Skills Crisis
(Kagan, 2009)
Kagan Cooperative learning provides solutions for four major crises in education. According to research and international assessment data academic performance in the U.S. is falling behind other leading nations. The growing diversity in our country has contributed to racial tensions and other social injustices. Socioeconomic status is a major factor in academic outcomes and the achievement gap in this country is wide. Students are not coming to school equipped with moral values and the essential character virtues and social skills for success in a classroom community. Cooperative learning provides teachers opportunities to teach so much more than just academics. Implementing the basic principles of PIES in a cooperative learning classroom will ensure that students are learning important skills to prepare them for life both in and out of the classroom.

10. References:
Kagan, S. The "P" and "I" of PIES: Powerful Principles for Success. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing. Kagan Online Magazine, Fall/Winter Retrieved from
Kagan, S. & Kagan, M. (2009). Kagan cooperative learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing.