Cooperative Learning

Cooperative Learning A Mini-Lesson By: Linda Mac Intyre

Cooperative Learning Students need to : • be attentive listeners. • appreciate the ideas and statements expressed by other students.

Cooperative Learning • allow other students the right to pass. • show respect for each other.

Inside/Outside Circles • Encourages dialogue between students. • Allows for movement • Allows for different interactions • Problem or question can be shown visually and orally . • Allows students the right to pass and not answer.

Inside/Outside Circles Strategy #1 • Half the class forms a circle • The other half of the class forms another circle inside facing a student in the other. • Teacher reads a poem and asks a question. • All students are given time to think of the answer.

Inside/Outside Circles …… • Person on the inside tells the person on the outside how they would solve the problem. • When the person is finished they say “Pass”. • The outside person will share or extend the thinking.

Inside/Outside Circles …… • Before the next question have the outside person rotate once to the left or right. • Next question. • Think, pass, extend answer…

Think- Pair- Share Strategy #2 Group the class into pairs, Student A and Student B. Problem or question is presented by the teacher Student A and Student B think quietly. Teacher notifies “think time” has ended. Student A tells Student B Student B tells Student A Teacher randomly asks students to share.

Four Corners Strategy #3 • Students need to make up their own minds and not be influenced by others. • Students need time to think. • Students are to start sharing once all students have a partner.

Four Corners Strategy #3 • Begin with a statement. • Each student chooses a corner that best captures their view or response. • They move to that corner.

Four Corners ….. • Once they move to the corner they pair up and share why they made that decision. • Students should be prepared to share their response and partner’s if asked.

Three- Step Interview Strategy #4 • Students • Share their thinking • Ask questions • Take notes • Have the right to ask for more time to think or pass.

Uses for The Three- Step Interview • Sharing key ideas in reports, homework • concept maps, units of study. • Share their views on a question, problem or topic. • Share their thoughts on a book, article or chapter they just read. • Use video or tape while interviewing.

Three- Step Interview • Each student is assigned a letter • A = interviewer • B = interviewee • C = reporter • Roles rotate after each interview

Three- Step Interview…. • After all interviews students share their key information when they were person C.

Place Mat Strategy #5 • Format of a place mat.

Place Mat Strategy …. • Students are in groups of four. • Each student has a section to brainstorm ideas on their own in quiet. • Students share their thinking with group • Each student has the right to pass and share later.

Place Mat Strategy …. • Key ideas of group are placed in the middle square. Extension: • Students may cut out their section , move, and share with another group.

Graffiti Strategy #6 Creative brainstorming • Groups consist of 3- 4 students • Each group has a different colored marker • Each piece of chart paper has a topic in the middle of the paper.

Graffiti Strategy …. • The students have 30 seconds to think of the topic on the paper. • They have 60-90 seconds to record ideas • They stop, move to next paper and write more ideas. • Continue until all papers have been visited.

Graffiti Strategy ….. Further Ideas: • Words or drawings can be used. • Character sketches of stories, initial unit of study(a country) with questions formed from original sheet • Creating math sentences from a number with group checking problems on original sheet.

Jigsaw Strategy #7 • Each student has an important role • Divide students into groups of 5 or 6 • One person from each group is the leader. • Divide the information into segments.

Jigsaw Strategy …. • Assign each student to learn one segment. • Allow time for each student to read it twice and become familiar with it. • Form temporary expert groups to discuss segment. • Bring students back to original group.

Jigsaw Strategy …. • Each student presents their segment to the group. • Members of the group may ask questions. • Group leader helps to keep students on task.

References • Aronson, E. (2000). Jigsaw classroom: Jigsaw in ten easy steps. Social Psychology Network. Retrieved July 27, 2003 from http://www.jigsaw.org/steps.htm • Bennett, B. & Rolheiser (2001). Beyond Monet: The Artful Science of Instructional Integration.Toronto, Ontario: Bookation Inc.

Any Questions?

Cooperative Learning