1 Training for the real world: Collaborative learning & Employability Skills Vivienne Scott

2 By the end of the session you will be able to engage students in meaningful ways through using two collaborative learning tactics and one strategy Demonstrate an understanding of Johnsons’ 5 basic elements of group work Identify the connection between employability skills and Johnsons’ collaborative skills

2000 CenterSource Systems: Tribes TLC Basic Training 3 The Impact of Co-op Learning & Group Processing on academic achievement (Johnson & Johnson 1985) Percent Correct Class A Individualistic Learning Class B Co-op Learning No Process Class C Co-op Learning with Processing

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5 Collaborative Learning is one of many instructional processes Group work that is not structured thoughtfully is one of the least effective approaches in the teaching and learning process

6 Think Pare Share Most of us have some very interesting stories of when group work ended in a disaster. Think to yourself of time when you used group work and it was not all that successful.

A Few Questions… What jobs have us sitting in rows and putting up our hands if we are stuck … waiting for the boss to answer our question? The most common skill or attitude in all job ads relates to communication skills and interpersonal skills, as well as, being able to work as part of a team.

‘Employability Skills for the Future’ (DEST 2002), prepared by ACCI and BCA 8 Definition of Employability Skills … the skills required not only to gain employment or establish an enterprise, but also to progress within an enterprise or expand employment capability, so as to achieve one's potential and contribute successfully to enterprise strategic directions.

9 Overview of the Eight Employability Skills communication teamwork problem solving initiative and enterprise planning and organising self-management learning technology

Consider… The number one predictor of becoming and staying effective is the ability of the members of an organization to confront and resolve conflict -- and they must learn those skills -- they are not in us automatically. Remember that cooperative learning creates conflict - you need the classroom management skills

Regarding Collaborative Skills…note  They are classified inductively into three genres:  Social Skills  Communication Skills  Critical Thinking Skills  They are classified inductively into three genres:  Social Skills  Communication Skills  Critical Thinking Skills

Regarding Collaborative Skills…note Social Skills: taking turns, equal voice, calm voice, politeness, appreciation statements, mutual respect, waiting your turn, encouraging others Communication Skills: attentive listening, paraphrasing, seeking clarification, accepting and extending the ideas of others, probing Critical Thinking Skills: suspending judgment, examining both sides of an issue, considering all factors, disagreeing agreeably Social Skills: taking turns, equal voice, calm voice, politeness, appreciation statements, mutual respect, waiting your turn, encouraging others Communication Skills: attentive listening, paraphrasing, seeking clarification, accepting and extending the ideas of others, probing Critical Thinking Skills: suspending judgment, examining both sides of an issue, considering all factors, disagreeing agreeably

2000 CenterSource Systems:13 A New Pattern of Interaction

Why Group Work… Works … The Johnsons’ Five Basic Elements The Johnsons’ Five Basic Elements individual accountability individual accountability promoting face to face interaction promoting face to face interaction teaching collaborative skills teaching collaborative skills processing academic and collaborative objectives processing academic and collaborative objectives applying one or more of the 9 types of positive interdependence applying one or more of the 9 types of positive interdependence

Johnsons’ 9 types of Positive Interdependence Goal (must be clear) Goal (must be clear) Resource Resource Incentive Incentive Role Role Sequence Sequence Identity Identity Outside Force Outside Force Environmental Environmental Simulation Simulation

How fast can you weave in the five basic elements? Let’s examine the question?

Academic Task: Explore how quickly we can apply the 5 Basic elements Critical Thinking Skill: Suspend Judgment

Implementation… Effective and experienced teachers have found that it takes a year to two years to reach a point where they have control of cooperative learning and it does not control them.

Positive Interdependence / Academic Task: Extend our understanding of the 9 types of positive interdependence by completing a Jigsaw integrated with the Johnsons’ 5 Basic Elements / Collaborative Task: Checking for Understanding (communication skill) / Academic Task: Extend our understanding of the 9 types of positive interdependence by completing a Jigsaw integrated with the Johnsons’ 5 Basic Elements / Collaborative Task: Checking for Understanding (communication skill)

Positive Interdependence Directions Groups of 4 - letter off ABCD A= Goal p56 and Role p 64 B= Outside Force p 73 and Incentive p 58 C= Sequence p 69 and Environmental p 75 D= Identity p 77, Simulation p 71, and Resource p 62 Home Group Study - four minutes Expert Group Refine - eight minutes Home Group Teach - ten minutes Test: Video Witness

21 Concept Maps Are advanced organisers and they assist learners to organise information and make connections Good for assessment and checking for understanding articulating the relationship between concepts © Central Institute of Technology 2010

22 Concept Map What are the critical attributes ? See hand out © Central Institute of Technology 2010

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25 Competency Based Assessment Training Package UOC Packaging rules Industry needs Workplace Classroom Students Evidence guides TAC Validity Reliability Fairness Flexibility Rules of Evidence –Current, reliable –Valid, authentic AQTF moderation © Central Institute of Technology 2010