Cooperative Learning

An old idea whose time has come!!

We > I

George Jacobs

•Email: gmjacobs@pacific.net.sg•Tel: 9-389-8360•WWW: www.georgejacobs.net

Acknowledgements

•CL Center, U. of Minnesota (USA) - www.clcrc.com

•Success for All Foundation - www.successforall.net

•Kagan Publications and Professional Development - www.KaganOnline.com

Write-Pair-Switch

•Each S works alone to write answers (2 mins)

•In pairs, Ss share answers (2 mins)•Ss switch partners & share their

former partner’s ideas with their new partner (2 mins)

Questions

•Name, subject, etc.•Experience with groups as S or

T•Current knowledge about CL•Want to learn about CL•2 questions of your own

How Can We Use Write-Pair-Switch?

•Meeting new group members•Before lesson to discuss what Ss know

about topic/remember from last lesson•During a lesson for Ss to practice

concepts taught or to give their own ideas•Afterwards to discuss what they have

learned & still need to learn

Write-Pair-Switch: Examples

•Books read during USSR/Extensive Reading•How did you choose the book?•Is it fiction or non-fiction?•What did you like about the book?•What do you plan to read next?

Write-Pair-Switch: Examples

•Plants•What plants do you know about?•How did you learn about them?•What plants are useful to you? How

do you use them?•If you could grow a plant, which one

would you grow? Why?

Write-Pair-Switch: Your Ideas

•Level? Subject? Topic?•What questions?•How much time for each step?•Use questions without 1 right

answer or that need an explanation of the entire answer

Outline

• Potential advantages of groups

• Problems with groups• Definition of CL• Dimensions of CL

Attention Signal

•T claps - T’s hand raised•Ss’ hands raised, mouths closed, eyes on T

•Ss alert classmates who do not see T’s hand raised

Quick, easy way to get Ss’ attention. The longer it takes to get Ss’ attention, the more time is lost.

RSPA•Raise hand

•Stop talking

•Pass signal

•Attention to teacher

Circle of Speakers

• 2 groups of 2 within each foursome•1 gives an idea•2 gives an idea•1 gives another idea•2 gives another idea•T calls on Ss to share partner’s ideas

Topic for Discussion

• What are potential advantages of groups? Explain, please.

2: You’re full of good ideas!1: You’re smart! I learned

something from you.

Potential Advantages of Grps

1. Quantity of learner speech can

increase

Maximum Peer Interaction

•Small groups•Less whole-class reporting•How do Write-Pair-Switch and

Circle of Speakers encourage Maximum Peer Interaction?

• 2. Individualization can increase

Equal Opportunity to Participate

•Does everyone have a structured chance to take part?

•How do Write-Pair-Switch and Circle of Speakers encourage Equal Opportunity to Participate?

Potential Advantages cont. ...

3. Anxiety can be reduced

4. Thinking can increase

Individual Accountability

•Each group member has to make a significant contribution to achieving the group's goal

•How do Write-Pair-Switch and Circle of Speakers encourage Individual Accountability?

Potential Advantages cont. ...

5. Motivation can increase

Positive Interdependence

•Do Ss feel that they sink or swim together?

•Ss need to collaborate to achieve their goal?

•How do Write-Pair-Switch and Circle of Speakers encourage Positive Interdependence?

• 6. Enjoyment can increase

Potential Advantages cont. ...

7. Independence can increase

8. Social integration can increase

Potential Advantages cont. ...

9. Students can learn to collaborate

Collaborative Skills

•Do students show that they know how to work together?•checking for understanding•disagreeing politely•asking for help•speaking with 15 cm voices•making suggestions•asking for repetition

•10. Learning can increase

How Can You Use Circle of Speakers?

•What question or task will you give the pairs?

Circle of Speakers: Examples

•5 times table: 1 says 5 x 1 = 5; 2 - 5 x 2 = 10; 1 - 5 x 3 = 15, etc.

•1 says a present tense verb; 2 says the past tense form. Reverse roles.

•Mammals: 1 says ‘rabbit’; 2 says ‘deer’; 1 says orangutan, etc.

Outline

• Potential advantages of groups

• Problems with groups

Circle of Writers

•Groups of 2•One partner is 1; Other is 2•1 and 2 write at the same time•They exchange papers, read what

their partner wrote, & discuss•1 & 2 share the other’s ideas with

the class

Topic

•Potential problems with groups•why the problem occurs•effects of the problem•experience with the consequences of the problem as S or T

Example

•Problem: too much noise•Why: Ss get very excited•Effects: headache, other Ts complain•Experience: My Ss played a word game

in groups. They were shouting and laughing. Later that day, another T told me I had disturbed her next door class.

•1: I enjoy working with you!

•2: _____________________!

Keep Up The Good Work

But don’t ask me to help

Problems with Groups

1. Freeloading2. Take-overs3. Arguing

Problems cont. ...

4. Socializing5. Crowd control6. Furniture

Problems, cont. ...

7. Appearances8. Ignorance9. Coverage10. Assessment

How Can We Use Circle of Writers?

•During or after a lecture, CD-ROM, etc., Circle of Writers lets us assess students’ understanding

•Variation: Ss can take turns to write•Circle of Writers and Circle of

Speakers can be combined

Using Circle of Writers

•What question or task will you give the pairs? How much time?

•Use questions/tasks that promote discussion

•Give prompts for questions to encourage fuller answer?

Circle of Writers: Example

•What is one method of saving paper?•How does the method work?•Do you already do this? •Why does it save paper?•Can you convince other people to use this method?

Circle of Writers: Example

•Describe one plant•Parts?•Habitat?•Its place in the web of life?

Outline

• Potential advantages of groups

• Problems with groups• Definition of CL

Focused Discussion Pairs (Johnson & Johnson, 1991)*

• T asks a question - Ss work alone• Partners share answers with each

other and try to improve them• All Ss need to be able to present

and explain their new answer• T calls on Ss at random to share the

answer their group developed• * Johnson, D.W., & Johnson, R.T. (1991). Cooperative learning

lesson structures. Edina, MN: Interaction Book Company.

Task - Part 1

•Choose 1 problem with groups that does/would cause you difficulties

•Explain why the one problem is important and give an example of the problem

Task - Part 2

• Take the problem you described in Part 1.

• Think of ways to solve the problem.

• Explain why you think your solutions will work.

• Perhaps CL techniques can help.

Focus on Collaborative Skills

• What is one thing a grp member did to help your group work together as a team?

• Who did it? What did they say/do?

• Be incredibly specific.

Collaborative Skills: Examples

•Leong asked, “Please explain positive interdependence to me.” Asking for help

•Azizah referred us to the two questions and gave examples. Giving examples

•Renu said to me, “You always have good ideas. What do you think?” Encouraging others to participate

How can you use Focused Discussion Pairs?

Using Focused Discussion Pairs

•T teaches, then gives Ss a question or task to check understanding

•Be sure to ask for reasons or for how the answer was obtained

•?s/tasks w/ many possible answers or parts let many Ss answer

FDP: Example

•T explains how to do division•Ss do division problems in groups•T calls a number•Ss with that number take turns to

explain one step that their group took in solving the problem

FDP: Example

•T asks Ss to design a robot that uses photosynthesis

•Ss put their heads together •T calls a number•Ss with that number explain what

their robot looks like and how it functions

Definition of CL

Concepts and techniques

for enhancing the value of

group activities

Definition of CL, cont. ...

What CL is NOT:1. Not new2. Not all the time3. Not magic

What CL is NOT, cont. ...

4. Not usually by itself5. Not simple6. Not as easy for Ts as for workshop leaders

What CL Is NOT, cont. ...

7. Not switched to all at once

8. Not mainly about groups

9. Not a fad

What CL Is NOT, cont. ...

10. Not just for students

*** Not just with a small classroom group

Outline

• Potential advantages of groups

• Problems with groups• Definition of CL• Dimensions of CL

Dimensions of CL - #1

•Group Size•Group Composition

Write-Circle of Speakers

•Each partner writes alone•1 talks for 2 mins.; 2 listens•2 talks for 2 mins.; 1 listens•1 & 2 share the other’s ideas with the class

Write-Circle of Speakers

1. Is 4 a good size for groups? Why or why not?

2. Should T choose the group members? Why or why not?

Dimensions of CL

Grps sit close together so they see/hear each other easily & do not bother other grps

2. Seating Arrangement

Dimensions of CL

Instead of: Ss assumed / hoped to know how to work together

3. Collaborative Skills

Collaborative Skills

CL: Collaborative skills taught

Collaborative Skills

•Encouraging others to participate

•Asking for help•Thanking others who give help•Making suggestions•Disagreeing

Collaborative Skills

•Checking that others understand

•Asking for reasons•Praising others•Listening attentively•Speaking quietly in groups

Circle of Speakers

What are collaborative skills your students need to improve?

Circle of Speakers

•1 gives an idea•2 gives an idea•1 gives another idea•2 gives another idea•T calls a S to share partner’s

ideas

Dimensions of CL

Instead of: When grps finish an activity, the group disbands

4. Duration of Groups

Group Duration

CL: Grps often exist for more than one activity, and discuss how they function

Dimensions of CL

Instead of: Ss assumed / hoped to feel solidarity with and care about grp members

5. Group Solidarity

Group Solidarity

CL: Ts attempt to build grp solidarity -

Positive Interdependence

Positive Interdependence

•Goal•Resource•Identity•Role•Reward

Circle of Writers

How can we encourage Ss to care about their groupmates’ learning?

Dimensions of CL

Instead of: Grp members assumed / hoped to want to participate / learn

6. Individual Participation/Learning

Individual Participation/Learning

CL: Activities foster participation / learning by all -

Individual Accountability

Dimensions of CL

Instead of: When Ss in grps, Ts catch up on paperwork

7. Teachers’ Roles

Teachers’ Role

CL: Ts actively monitor grp learning/ functioning

Dimensions of CL

Instead of: As far as Ss know, Ts don’t participate in grps

8. Teachers’ Roles

Teachers’ Role

CL: Ts discuss / model how they collaborate with fellow educators and others

Discussion Question

How do you or how could you collaborate with other Ts?

Snowball (Kearney, 1993) *

• Each S works alone to list ideas or information

• Pairs explain their lists to each other and make a combined list with no duplications

• Pair One and Pair Two present, explain, and combine their lists with no duplications

• * Kearney, P. (1993). Cooperative learning techniques. Hobart, Tasmania: Artemis Publishing.

Dimensions of CL

Instead of: No attention given to creating solidarity beyond the grp

9. Solidarity Beyond the Group

Solidarity Beyond the Group

CL: Ts try to create solidarity throughout the class and beyond

Dimensions of CL

Instead of: Cooperation just a way of learning, not an instructional theme

10. Solidarity Beyond the Group

Solidarity Beyond the Group

CL: Cooperation not only a way of learning but also a topic for learning

Write-Pair-Switch

•Each S works alone to write answers (2 mins)

•In pairs, Ss share answers (2 mins)•Ss switch partners & share their

former partner’s ideas with their new partner (2 mins)

Topic

•What is one CL idea you would like to try?

Examples

I want to try …- Write-Pair-Switch- Attention Signal

Circle of Writers: Example•4 pieces of paper per group•Each S writes & then passes the paper

to their left•Ss read what the other S has written,

continue based on that, and then pass the paper

•Ss pass & write until papers return to original writers

Circle of Writers - Topic

•One question about CL•When you receive someone else’s

paper, respond to that question•Thus, each question will have 3

responses

Example

•I wonder what to do with Ss who don’t say anything in their group

•How can I use CL if there are more than 40 students in my class?

•Can I cover the syllabus if I use CL?

Circle of Speakers

•The class has a topic or question with multiple answers

•One at a time, each S stands and tells groupmates their response

Circle of Speakers - Topic

•Give your reaction to the Circle of Writers responses that your groupmates wrote to your question about CL

Using Circle of Writers

•Can be All at Once (1 paper /person) or One at a Time (1 paper/grp)

Using Circle of Writers•Each S begins a story & passes to a

groupmate who continues the story•Each S does one part of a mathematics

problem that has multiple steps•4 sheets: each with a different animal. Ss

write one characteristic of the animal and how that affects the animal’s behaviour.

Using Circle of Speakers

•What is one thing you learned in today’s class? Explain it.

5%Lecture

 10%

Reading 

20%Audio-visual

 30%

Demonstration 

50%Discussion Group

 75%

Practice by Doing 

90%Teach Others

LEARNING PYRAMID

% of Average Retention Rate

CRAIGEN, J. & GREEN, N.

INQUIRING EXPLORING

UNDERSTANDINGREFLECTING

Cooperative Learning

Independent Learning

Whole Class

Learning

WEALL

MECooperative Independent

Learning Grades 7-12Peel School District, Canada

A HEALTHY BALANCE

Direct Teaching = Learning ?

Who’s Teaching Whom?

Please Thank

Your Partners