1. Cooperative Learning Concepts
Basics of Cooperative Learning
Mervin Maxwell, RRC/CAE/CDD

2. Five Essential Elements
1. Positive Interdependence
2. Face-to-Face Interaction
3. Individual Accountability
4. Interpersonal & Small Group Skills
5. Group Processing
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

3. Positive Interdependence
Students perceive that they need each other in order to complete the group task. This is accomplished by establishing:
Students agree on answers & solution strategies
Mutual Goals [learn and make sure all other group members learn]
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

4. Positive Interdependence
Assign Role Responsibility / Division of Labor – each member performs his/her job or duty
Common Rewards – if all group members achieve the goal, each member will receive a reward
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

5. Positive Interdependence
Shared Resources/Dependent on each other’s resources – one paper for each group or each member receives and/or obtains part of the information from other members
All members are linked together, one cannot succeed unless the group succeeds
Learn your partner’s answer
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

6. Face-to-Face Interaction
Students promote each other’s learning by helping, sharing, e& encouraging, efforts to learn. Students explain, discuss, and teach what they know to their classmates. Groups are physically structured [I.e., around a small table] so that students sit and talk through each aspect of the assignment.
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

7. Face-to-Face Interaction
Students orally explain to each other how to solve problems.
Students discuss concepts & strategies being learned.
Students teach their knowledge to each other.
Students explain to each other the connections between what they are doing now & how it related to past material.
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

8. Face-to-Face Interaction
Students help, assist, encourage, and support each other throughout the learning process.
Share your answer with a partner.
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

9. Individual Accountability
Each student’s performance is frequently assessed & the results are given to the group and the individual. Individual accountability is accompanied by giving an individual test to each student, or randomly selecting one group member to give the answer.
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

10. Individual Accountability
Instructor ensures each member is assessed with feedback to group & to individual.
Group cannot rely on one member – no one dominant member.
Individual written assessments.
Randomly calling on one member for all.
Individual oral exams within the group.
Formulate an answer individually.
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

11. Interpersonal & Small Group Skills
Groups cannot function effectively is students do not have and use the needed social skills. Collaborate skills include:
leadership
decision-making
trust building
communication
conflict-management skills
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

12. Interpersonal & Small Group Skills
Teach leadership & conflict resolution skills
Explain decision making, trust building, and communication skills.
Students are not used to this method and must be trained in it.
Listen carefully to your partner’s answers.
Create a new answer through discussion.
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

13. Cooperative Learning Basics
Group Processing
Groups need specific time to discuss how well they are achieving their goals and maintaining effective working relationships among members. The group processing is accomplished by assigning such tasks as [a] list at least 3 member actions that helped the group be successful, and [b] list 1 action that could be added to make the group even more successful tomorrow.
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

14. Cooperative Learning Basics
Group Processing
Instructors also monitor the groups and give feedback on how well the groups are working together to the groups and to the class as a whole.
How well is the group achieving its goals?
How well is the group maintaining effective working relationships?
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

15. Cooperative Learning Basics
Group Processing
Ask what is something that each member did that was helpful to the group?
Ask what is something that each member could do that would be helpful to the group?
Ensure each member gets feedback, remind students to practice collaborative skills.
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

16. Cooperative Learning Basics
Types of Groups
Informal Groups
Formal Groups
Base Groups
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

17. Cooperative Learning Basics
Informal groups
Typically used in a classroom – 15 min. lecture, 5 min. group; 15 min. lecture, 5 min. group; summary
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

18. Cooperative Learning Basics
Informal groups
Temporary – one discussion or one class period.
Purpose: focus student attention on material to be learned, set a mood to conducive learning, ensure students are learning material, provide closure to an instructional lesson.
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

19. Cooperative Learning Basics
Informal groups
Can be used anytime.
Especially useful during a lecture.
Helps pass information from the notes to the student.
Focused discussions
Ask questions in class
End class with a discussion
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

20. Cooperative Learning Basics
Informal groups
Turn to your partner discussion – 3-4 minutes [making thinking visible!]
Formulate &/or summarize an answer to a question just asked by you
Share your ideas with a partner
Listen to other person’s point of view
Create a new answer resolving any differences
Randomly pick a group
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

21. Cooperative Learning Basics
Formal Group
Typically lab groups, projects, etc.
Last 1 class to several weeks
Purpose: complete a specific task
Procedure
Receive instruction from instructor
Instructor assigns groups, provides materials
Instructor explains task
Instructor monitors group
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

22. Cooperative Learning Basics
Formal Group
Procedure [continued]
Groups present their model & solution
Class discusses solutions
Each group prepares a report
Instructor & Class evaluate
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

23. Cooperative Learning Basics
Base Groups
Long term
Stable membership
Groups personalize the work required & course learning experience
Group responsibilities
Give assistance, support, & encouragement for mastering the content & skills needed to understand the theory of the material
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics

24. Cooperative Learning Basics
Base Groups
Group Responsibilities [continued]
Ensure all members engage in intellectual controversy, get work done on time, and apply what is learned
Ensure all members of all interacting base groups master the theories, concepts, skills, and knowledge of the course
17/04/2019
Cooperative Learning Basics