1. Instructional Sequence

2.  Placing socially unskilled individuals in a group and telling them to cooperate does not guarantee that they will be able to do so effectively. They must be taught…  Leadership  Decision-making  Communication  Conflict-management.

3.  This program does not prescribe a time table for implementation.  Over the course of two to three weeks focus on one aspect of the curriculum.  The training will be integrated along side an established academic curriculum.  The key is focused practice on the cooperative skill and student reflection on their strengths and weaknesses.

4.  Self assessments will be denoted with  Guided cooperative scenarios will be denoted with  Self reflections will be denoted with

5.  Bring attention to communication as the foundation for cooperative.  Be sure to model the skills you wish students to learn.  Honor good communication publicly.

6.  To facilitate future thinking and discussion of communication it is important to establish a common vocabulary.  Take 20 minutes to explore the vocabulary.  Students should complete the worksheet individually, compare and revise within a small group, then formalize understanding as a large group.  Terminology Terminology

7.  Students must establish a baseline for analyzing their growth.  Take 5-10 minutes for self assessment of communication skills.  Students should share their results within small groups and cooperatively work on growth plans for each member.  Self Assessment Self Assessment

8.  Observing and experiencing the fundamental components of communication will highlight the importance of some of the most basic requirements.  Allow 30-35 minutes for this cooperative simulation.  Note the material requirements of this activity.  Plane Wreck Plane Wreck

9.  Observing the effects of communication patterns will illuminate the need for awareness and will lay the foundation for effective communication.  This activity, more than any other shines light on individual communication style.  Allow 30-35 minutes for this activity.  Liepz and Bounz Liepz and Bounz  Communication Dissection Communication Dissection

10.  Integrate cooperative skills into academic curriculum.  Place awareness on communication during content driven activities.  Allow 10-15 minutes for individual reflection, small group discussion, and large group validation.  Repeat this reflection multiple times and demand deeper thinking each time.  Communication Analysis Communication Analysis

11.  Finalize the communication portion of the cooperative skills training with an individual reflection on style, strengths, and weaknesses.  Allow 10-15 minutes for this reflection.  Have students share within their small groups.  Groups should assist members in creating a goal and plan for further growth.  Reflection Reflection