Cooperative+Learning

=This is a method of grouping students. Many research has been done on the positive affects and benefits for students. Effectiveness occurs when students work together to accomplish shared goals and when positive structures are in place to support that process ([|Examples])= =For effective groups it must include= > [|Edutopia] __**Key research findings are:**__
 * = media type="youtube" key="S0s_qxJDuas" width="433" height="334" align="left"Cooperative Learning Instructional Strategies =
 * Students understand that they either succeed or fail together.
 * They must understand that their work must be combined to complete the assignment.
 * Each member is assigned a specific role.
 * They must help each other, and encourage each other as well.
 * They are accoutable to each other and to the group.
 * They must communicate, decide together, have time management, and learn that it is okay to disagree.
 * This website, Edutopia, has wonderful videos on how //cooperative learning strategies// prompt active, authentic learning.
 * There is also a great article on //How to get students to work together[|Edutopia article]//
 * Wikis are a great use for //cooperative learning//. The teacher can focus on supporting peer interaction and social learning. Working as a team, is such a true life experience. Together, they make mistakes, and learn to question processes. They also look out for each other, and it gives a great sense of ownership. It really mirrors the way information is shared in society. Learning as you go, and the process of revising, evaluating, and generating information from one another in the group is so much like what is done in business, government, and many fields.(Maloy,2011)
 * **Intergrating technology in collaborative learning allows students to acquire skills and exchange knowledge in ways that create and sustain lasting learning.**
 * **Intergrating technology in collaborative learning allows students to acquire skills and exchange knowledge in ways that create and sustain lasting learning.**
 * **Organizing students in heterogeneous cooperative learning groups at least once a week has a significant effect on learning(Marzano, Pickering,&Pollock, 2001).**
 * **Low-ability students perform worse when grouped in homogeneous ability groups (Kulik & Kulik,1991,1997;Lou et al, 1996).**
 * **There may be no other instructional strategy that simultaneously achieves such diverse outcomes as cooperative grouping. The amount, generalizability, breadth, and applicability of the research on cooperative, competitive, and individualistic efforts provides considerable validation of the use of cooperative learning to achieve diverse outcomes, including achievement, time on task, motivation, transfer of learning, and other benefits(Cohen, 1994a; Johnson, 1970; Johnson & Johnson, 1974, 1978, 1989,1999a,2000; Koahn, 1992;Sharan, 1980;Slavin, 1977, 1991).**
 * A great website for Research proven resources is :www.netc.org/focus/strategies/coop.php
 * =__In my own research and critique:__=
 * I have found such great research backings for how this instructional strategy is so relevant to supporting effective benefits for all learners. The key is for teachers to facilitate it with good strategies for a successful outcome.
 * It must be small groups, 4-6 students works best.
 * Keep groups heterogeneous for best benefits for the low-ability students.
 * Remember not to use cooperative learning for all instructions.
 * Use a variety of strategies when choosing students for groups, for example, favorite colors, letters in names, birthdays. This will help keep groups random
 * Teachers have to be organized to foster smooth processes needed for effective outcome.
 * Teachers must monitor, and adjust where needed.
 * They must define criteria for success with rubrics for expectations.
 * Teachers must meet with each group to support their success.
 * What I really like about Cooperative Learning is that it helps minimize large or whole group instruction by having small groups, doing different activities at the same time. This allows the teacher to move among them to facilitate and supervise the learning. Technology helps to create learning centers and gives students control and responsibility over the learning process. It also helps students delegate authority over specific task within their groups. This in turn makes use of strengths of each to the assignment. It also promotes conceptual thinking. When students work together, they aquire skills and exchange knowledge in ways that create and sustain lasting learning.
 * What I really like about Cooperative Learning is that it helps minimize large or whole group instruction by having small groups, doing different activities at the same time. This allows the teacher to move among them to facilitate and supervise the learning. Technology helps to create learning centers and gives students control and responsibility over the learning process. It also helps students delegate authority over specific task within their groups. This in turn makes use of strengths of each to the assignment. It also promotes conceptual thinking. When students work together, they aquire skills and exchange knowledge in ways that create and sustain lasting learning.