Cooperative Learning A Definition

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Cooperative Learning A Definition

• Natasha Neagle

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Overview

• Definition and focus
• History
• Defining Elements
• Guidelines
• Group Settings

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What is Cooperative Learning?

• This is accomplished when a teacher breaks up the
  classroom into small groups and allows them to
  complete the assigned task over a given period of
  time.

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Focus of the Topic

• To discuss the different ways a teacher may
  organize his/her students within a heterogeneous
  class

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History

• 1867 W.T. Harris
• Began as a grouping strategy
• Early 1900s
• Santa Barbara Plan
• Grouped grades into A, B, and C
• Considered homogeneous grouping

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History cont.

• 1981Johnson Johnson
• Study contrasting cooperative learning with other
  techniques
• Concluded that organizing students into
  cooperative learning groups had a positive effect
  on learning regardless of competition
• 1982 Kulik Kulik
• Noticed that the use of homogenous grouping was
  declining possible due to
• Low effectiveness
• Ability grouping promotes inequality

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Defining Elements

• Defined by Johnson Johnson
• Positive interdependence
• Sink or swim as a group together
• Face-to-face promotive interaction
• Helping each other learn, applauding success
  efforts
• Individual group accountability
• Everyone must contribute
• Group roles

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Defining Elements cont.

• Interpersonal small group skills
• Everyone must learn the following skills
• Communication
• Trust
• Leadership
• Decision making
• Conflict resolution
• Group processing
• Reflecting on team function how to function
  even better
• Effort and Achievement Rubric

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Effort and Achievement Rubric
Taken from Ch. 4 Figure 4.2, Classroom
Instruction That Works
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Guidelines

• Defined by Lou et al. (1996)
• Use of homogenous groups to be used cautiously
• Small group size
• Apply cooperative grouping consistently and
  systematically, but do not overuse!
• Anderson et al warns against
• Misuse
• Overuse

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Group settings

• Developed by Johnson Johnson
• Informal groups
• Group size 2
• Time few min class period
• Purpose clarify expectation, focus attention
• Formal groups
• Group size 3 or 4
• Time several days to weeks
• Purpose designed to ensure students have enough
  time to thoroughly complete an assignment
• Base groups
• Group size 3 or 4
• Time semester or year
• Purpose provide students with support, help each
  other complete routine tasks

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Summary

• Definition and focus
• History
• Defining Elements
• Guidelines
• Group Settings

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Understanding the Cooperative Learning Activity

• Assigning groups
• Randomly assigned by handing out cards to
  students and having them match them to a bigger
  version of the card at a table
• Focus exercise
• As a group students work together to write down
  everything they know about a topic before
  learning it.