MARA: CHAPTER 6

WORKING TOGETHER TO LEARN

THE VISION

A COOPERATAIVE CLASSROOM IS ONE IN WHICH ALL MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE MUTUAL GOALS.

CHALLENGES TO THE VISION

• THERE’S NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND

• OTHER PEOPLE STAND IN THE WAY OF OUR SUCCESS

• THE SYSTEM IS FAIR: YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE AND DESERVE WHAT YOU GET

• IT’S NOT SAFE TO GET TOO CLOSE/CONNECTED WITH OTHER PEOPLE

• COOPERATION “COUNTS LESS” THAN INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT

• COMPETITION IS MOTIVATING

• COMPETITION HELPS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE “REAL WORLD”

• BARRIERS TO CONFLICT RESULUTION

IS THIS WORKING:

• DO STUDENTS USE THE LANGUAGE OF COOPERATION

• DO STUDENTS CONCEPTUALIZE TASKS AS COOPERATIVE, LOOKING FOR OTHERS TO WORK WITH, OR AS COMPETITIVE, OR AS INDIDUALISTIC

• DO STUDENTNS CONSTANTLY COMPARE THEIR WORK TO OTHERS, OR ARE THEY ABLE TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THEIR CLASSMATES

• DO STUDENTS DISPLAY THE SKILLS NECESSARE FOR WORKING IN COOPERATIVE GROUPS: LISTENING, PROBLEM SOLVING, TAKING TURNS, ENCOURAGING OTHERS, ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION, DISAGREEING NICELY

• DO STUDENTS TURN TO ONE ANOTHER AS SOURCES OF HELP WHEN THEY HAVE ACADEMIC OR PERSONAL PROBLEMS

• DO STUDENTS CONSISTENTLY EMPOWER OTHER STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THINGS

• DO STUDENTS HAVE REPERTOIRES OF COOPERATIVE GAMES THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO PLAY AND WILL INITIATE WITH OTHERS?

• ARE STUDENTS CRITICAL AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT COMMUNITY AND WORLD EVENTS THAT ARE STRUCTURED OR CONEPTUALIZED COMPETITIVELY, POINTING OUT THAT THERE MIGHT BE ALTERNATIVE, MORE COOPERATIVE WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME GOAL?