Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Cooperative Cooperative LearningLearning
Patricia Becker-JohnsonPatricia Becker-JohnsonFor TeachersFor Teachers
Technology Project 1Technology Project 1SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
October 5, 2008October 5, 2008
Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Cooperative LearningCooperative Learning
Definition: A Definition: A grouping strategy grouping strategy
that allows that allows students to work students to work together to gain together to gain knowledge using knowledge using
each others’ each others’ strengths and strengths and weaknessesweaknesses
Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Essential Elements to Essential Elements to Cooperative Learning Cooperative Learning
Successful cooperative Successful cooperative learning groups should learning groups should have the following:have the following:
Team members must see Team members must see themselves as part of the themselves as part of the teamteam
Interactive engagementInteractive engagement Individual and group Individual and group
accountabilityaccountability
Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Essential Elements to Essential Elements to Cooperative Learning Cooperative Learning
ContinuedContinued Some members must have Some members must have
interpersonal and leadership skillsinterpersonal and leadership skills Team members should be able to Team members should be able to
reflect on their own learning and reflect on their own learning and the group’s functionthe group’s function
Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Against Cooperative Against Cooperative Learning? Learning?
Some educators are against Some educators are against cooperative learning because cooperative learning because they feel it pushes they feel it pushes competitiveness in the classroom. competitiveness in the classroom. But in actuality, cooperative But in actuality, cooperative learning shows students how they learning shows students how they must work together in the future must work together in the future in the real world.in the real world.
Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Formal and Informal Formal and Informal Cooperative Learning Cooperative Learning
GroupsGroupsFormal Formal InformalInformalDesigned for specific Designed for specific learning outcomeslearning outcomesShould not last longer Should not last longer than specific learning than specific learning tasktaskAssign students a Assign students a specific job like director, specific job like director, recorder, or presenterrecorder, or presenter
Students design their Students design their own learning taskown learning taskStudents work with Students work with others to improve the others to improve the learninglearningAssign students a Assign students a specific job like director, specific job like director, recorder, or presenterrecorder, or presenter
Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Cooperative Learning: Cooperative Learning: AdvantagesAdvantages
Grouping students with different levels Grouping students with different levels together allows learning to occur for all together allows learning to occur for all studentsstudents
Formal or informal groups depending on Formal or informal groups depending on learning tasklearning task
Long term groups can be developed Long term groups can be developed creating different learning opportunitiescreating different learning opportunities
Can be applied to all content areasCan be applied to all content areas
Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Cooperative Learning: Cooperative Learning: LimitationsLimitations
Size – groups need to be small to ensure Size – groups need to be small to ensure learninglearning
Potential overuse – if used too much, Potential overuse – if used too much, cooperative learning may become cooperative learning may become ineffectiveineffective
Group members – groups should consist Group members – groups should consist of different ability levels to enhance the of different ability levels to enhance the learning of all memberslearning of all members
Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Cooperative Learning: Cooperative Learning: Integration into Middle Integration into Middle
School ClassroomSchool Classroom Endless PossibilitiesEndless Possibilities Any grade level or content Any grade level or content
areaarea Good strategy to use Good strategy to use
when limited availability of when limited availability of technologytechnology Example 4 or 5 people Example 4 or 5 people
to one computer to one computer
Patricia Becker-Johnson Patricia Becker-Johnson SLIS 5720 SLIS 5720
Cooperative Learning: Cooperative Learning: Integration into Middle Integration into Middle
School ClassroomSchool Classroom Discussions on topics before reading or after Discussions on topics before reading or after
readingreading Literature circles apply this theory Literature circles apply this theory
View different types of media critically View different types of media critically Prepare presentations for other groupsPrepare presentations for other groups Jigsaw presentations where each member Jigsaw presentations where each member
becomes an expert on certain aspects of becomes an expert on certain aspects of materialmaterial