A FRESH LOOK AT COOPERATIVE LEARNING
NOTES TO ACCOMPANY THE "FRESH LOOK VIDEO TAPE"
OPENING QUESTIONS: PROGRAM #1
- Consider the issues of cooperation and competition in the school setting. What role does each play in the development of a quality school?
- What knowledge or training do you have in the area of cooperative learning? What questions or concerns do you have about it?
- How would you express your current belief about the effectiveness of cooperative learning in the classroom?
- How would you rate your school/district in providing training for teachers in areas such as cooperative learning?
VIDEO TAPE CONCEPT HIGHLIGHTS: PROGRAM #1
The five critical attributes of cooperative learning presented are:
- positive interdependence
- individual accountability
- promotive interactions
- interpersonal training
- group processing
Research, misconceptions and concern about cooperative learning are targeted and explored.
The development of trust is a critical prerequisite for successful cooperative learning groups.
Cooperative learning works best for tasks which engage students in:
- divergent thinking
- risk taking
- problem solving
- perspective taking
- creativity
Cooperative learning works with all ages of students and in all subject areas.
Well structured and appropriately used, cooperative learning promotes higher level thinking in students.
OPENING QUESTIONS: PROGRAM #2
- What criteria might be considered to determine whether cooperative learning is an appropriate learning strategy in a given teaching situation?
- What skills are necessary in conflict resolution? How could cooperative learning be used to help students acquire conflict resolution skills?
- Evaluate your students' skills in :
- listening
- speaking
- being supportive of and working with classmates
- self-evaluating.
- What opportunities do ALL students have to practice these skills on a regular basis?
- What components of cooperative learning seem to be particularly transferable to the development of healthy relationships and interaction among staff members in your school?
VIDEO TAPE CONCEPT HIGHLIGHTS: PROGRAM #2
- The theory of cooperative learning is integrated into ideas on how to start the process with students.
- Procedures are suggested to help teachers organize groups.
- Strategies for classroom implementation of the five attributes of cooperative learning are presented.
- Conflict is a healthy and natural stage in the growth process which occurs in cooperative learning.
- Approaches to dealing with conflict are explored.
- Flexibility and training are necessary to help students understand and fulfill their roles in a cooperative group.
- Cooperative learning IS NOT an easier method of instruction. It IS an effective process of learning:
- interpersonal skills,
- individual accountability,
- and curriculum content.