Cooperative Learning
Cooperative Learning
is a cluster of instructional strategies that involve students
working collaboratively to reach common goals.
Overview
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Group Goals are incentives within cooperative learning that help create
a team spirit and encourage students to help each other.
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Individual Accountability requires that each member of a cooperative
learning group demonstrate mastery of the concepts and skills being taught.
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Equal Opportunity for Success means that all students, regardless of
ability or background, can expect to be recognized for their efforts.
Social Structure of Cooperative Learning
Teacher’s Role
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Organization of groups
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Building a sense of teamwork
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Monitoring students’ progress and participation
Students’ Roles
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Active responsibility for their own learning
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Students learn to explain, compromise, negotiate, and motivate
Cooperative Learning: Why it Works
Behaviorist Perspectives:
Group rewards are based on group members’ performances; students
are rewarded for working together.
Social Explanations:
If a learning task is challenging and interesting, the process
of working together as a group can be intrinsically motivating.
Cognitive Perspectives:
Student Development- Students develop conceptual growth by being
exposed to higher or more complex ways of thinking.
Cognitive Elaboration- Students who explain and elaborate learn more
than passive learners do.
Practice Feedback- Feedback in small groups and student explanations
are on a level the students can understand.
Eggen, P.D., & Kauchak,
D.P. (1996). Strategies for teachers, teaching content,
and thinking skills.
Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Class Projects
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