Cooperative learning involves organizing students into small groups to work together on learning activities. When implemented effectively with the right support structures, it has been shown to improve academic achievement, ethnic relations, and social skills while reducing achievement gaps. The document outlines nine effective cooperative learning strategies and discusses how to structure groups, choose strategies, and facilitate success.

1. Cooperative Learning Norris L. Roberts, Jr.

2. Positive Outcomes Academic Achievement Ethnic Relations Social Skills Achievement Gap

3. Nine Strategies Identifying Similarities and Differences Summarizing and Note Taking Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition Homework and Practice Nonlinguistic Representations Cooperative Learning Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback Generating and Testing Hypotheses Cues, Questions, and Advance Organizers

4. Cooperative Learning Organizing students into cooperative groups yields a positive effect on overall learning. When applying cooperative learning strategies, keep groups small and don’t overuse this strategy. Be systematic and consistent in your approach.

5. Cooperative Learning Ten different methods have been formally described in the research literature. Effective cooperative learning occurs when students work together to accomplish shared goals and when positive structures are in place to support that process.

6. Cooperative 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). Cooperative learning can be ineffective when support structures are not in place (Reder & Simon, 1997).

7. Cooperative Learning Create the right type of group for the need. Informal ad hoc - pair and share Base groups - long-term social and interpersonal support. Formal learning groups used when a commitment of time and effort is required.

8. Cooperative Learning 2. Keep group size small. 4-6 students 3. Use sparingly. Students of all abilities benefit by heterogeneous grouping, especially low-ability students. 4. Use a variety of strategies when choosing students fro groups. (common clothing, favorite colors, letters in names) 5. Facilitate success. Don’t allow things to just happen. 6. Teach specific skills before grouping students, define criteria for success and develop rubrics for key expectations.

9. Six Key Concepts of Cooperative Learning Structures Teams Management Will to Cooperate Skill to Cooperate Principles Structures

10. Teams Heterogeneous Teachers may assigned, or random Groups last approximately six weeks Teams of four are ideal. This allow pair work which doubles participation and open twice as many lines of communication.

11. Cooperative Management Room arrangement Universal quiet signal Extensive use of teacher and student modeling

12. Will to Cooperate Teambuilding Classbuilding Task and Reward structures Motivating Cooperation among teams Praise

13. Skill to Cooperate Social skill development is a defining characteristic of cooperative learning Modeling Reinforcement Role assignments Structuring reflection

14. Basic Principles P – Positive Interdependence “ Is your gain my gain?” I - Individual Accountability “ Is individual public performance required?” E - Equal Participation “ How equal is the participation?” S - Simultaneous Interaction “ What percent are overtly active at once?”

15. Six Purposes of Cooperative Learning Classbuilding Teambuilding Mastery Thinking Skills Communication Skills Information Sharing

16. Team Building Create TEAMS in which Together Everyone Achieves More Promote Real World Teamwork Skills Create the Will and Skill to Cooperate Builds Positive Student Relations Enhance Classroom Climate and Have Fun.

17. Structures: Fan N Pick, Find the Fiction, Pairs Compare, Round Robin, Spin N Think

18. Structures Class Building Build Positive Student Relations Enhance Classroom Climate and Have Fun Reduce Discipline Problems Increase Motivation and Learning Promote Diversity Skills Boost Self-Esteem Develop Synergy Structures: Find Someone Who, Inside/Outside Circle, Mix Freeze, Mix Pair Share

19. Structures Team Building Create TEAMS in which Together Everyone Achieves More Promote Real World Teamwork Skills Create the Will and Skill to Cooperate Builds Positive Student Relations Enhance Classroom Climate and Have Fun. Structures: Fan N Pick, Find the Fiction, pairs Compare, Round Robin, Spin N Think

20. Dr. Spencer Kagan Norris Roberts Florida Summer 2008

21. Cooperative Learning Dr. Spencer Kagan Summer Learning Academy Orlando, FL July 6-11,2008