Learning to Work in a Cooperative Group

1
Learning to Work in a Cooperative Group

• Jan Summers

2
Why Do We Have Groups?

• Encourages social participation of the learner
• Promotes teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Reduces competition
• Increases retention of material

3
Groups Foster Social Skills

• Become active listeners
• Learn to ask good questions
• Give others a chance to share ideas
• Passive students benefit

4
How Do Students Learn to Manage Conflict?

• Recognize conflict
• Identify wants
• Identify feelings
• Identify others wants
• Offer solutions
• Reach agreement

5
Teachers Role

• Continually monitor groups
• Guide students by asking quality questions
• Insure that each student is accountable

6
Assessment

• Needs to be measured
• Students require feedback
• Achieved through observation
• Students self-evaluate

7
What Makes a Group Less Successful?

• Students work on their own
• Interaction involves giving and checking answers
• Teacher instructions are unclear
• Absence of predefined student roles

8
What Makes a Group More Successful?

• Manipulatives are used
• Groups have at least three members
• Rewards are used, mostly for positive behavior
• Teacher monitors group
• Individual or group accountability

9
References

• Chiu, M. (2004). Adapting teacher interventions
  to students needs during cooperative learning
  How to improve student problem solving and time
  on-task. American Educational Research Journal,
  41, 365-400.
• Emmer, E. T. Gerwels, M.C. (2002). Cooperative
  learning in elementary classrooms Teaching
  practices and lesson characteristics. The
  Elementary School Journal, 103, 75-93.
• Prinu, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A
  review of the research. Journal of Engineering
  Education, 93, 223-232.
• Vermette, P., Harper, L., Dimillo, S. (2004).
  Cooperative and collaborative learning with 4-8
  year olds How does research support teachers
  practice? Journal of Instructional Psychology,
  31, 130.