Practicing Cooperative Learning

Week 5

Class- Mon, 9/23/13

Today’s class focused on the design of our unit plan. Dr. Smirnova presented a lesson which included what we will need to know about unit plans when we go to fieldwork. Over the weekend, we were assigned to read chapter 8 and create a visual map about what we learned. Chapter 8 was about how to construct powerful and meaningful social studies units. In class, we shared our thoughts about visual mapping. Some students were on the fence about it, and other students enjoyed doing it. In my opinion, I enjoyed making the visual map because it helped me understand the chapter and assessing my knowledge in a creative way.

A unit plan is the largest segment of teaching. Teachers create unit plans because it helps students develop skills and attitude of values. We also discussed the 3 types of evaluation: significance, relevance, and coherence. There are also different types of unit plans which include: Descriptive, thinking-skills, theme, and problem solving. A unit plan distinguishes a main goal that is to be reached. Lesson plans contain objectives that students will do during the lesson. The wheel design and the column design are two different ways teachers can use in order to construct their units. We learned the difference between a convergent and divergent question. A convergent question has one definite answer. This can be asked through yes/no or 5 “W” questions. A divergent question is an open ended question that could have several responses.

Our units must contain 2 goals and 2 objectives. The structure of the unit plan includes: an introduction, goals, standards, objectives, subject matter, starting unit(3-5) activities, 6 lessons (3 full msmc, 3 brief), culminating project (2 projects), evaluation, resources, and reflection. Dr. Smirnova also mentioned we should take pictures throughout the time of our field work to look at the progress of how the students are learning from beginning to end. Today’s class was very helpful in the way that I have a clear understanding now of how our unit plan should be designed.

Class-Wed, 9/25/13

In social studies methods class today, we learned about cooperative learning. Cooperative learning is a method of teaching. This is when students learn together in groups. There are many benefactors that come out of cooperative learning. It is one of the most powerful and effective method of learning.We learned about the methods of cooperative learning which is known as PIGS. This stands for: Positive Interdependence, Individual Accountability, Group Processing, and Social Skills.

Positive interdependence means that all students in the group work positively together in order to help one another succeed. Individual accountability means that each student in the group is responsible and accountable for the role they play in the group and the work they have to do. Group processing means students reflect and process ideas together. Social skills promotes socialization between members in the group while they learn.

We had to choose one of the 4 benefits of cooperative learning. Once we choose our topic, we had to get into a group with other people who chose that topic as well. We were doing our own form of cooperative learning. I worked in a group with Liz, Tara, and Alex. We chose "Individual Accountability". The main goal that we came to for individual accountability in a group is that each member is individually responsible for accomplishing the goal set in the group. The teacher oversees the group and makes sure each member is contributing to the group. Individuals are tested orally, individually, and randomly. On Friday, we will be teaching our field work groups about our topic. 

Today's class was a good example of cooperative learning. I know in my group, first we learned individually by reading the information and taking down our own notes. We then came together and discussed the ideas we read and picked up on. We then compromise on what we would write about in our  Jigsaw charts. 

Class-Friday 9/27/13

         Today we continued our Jigsaw projects. We got back into our expert groups to discuss how we were going to teach our field work groups about our topic. Our topic was Individual Accountability. I suggested that we start off by pre-assessing the students' knowledge by asking them if they know what the word individual means. Then we would ask them if they know what accountability means. After that, I suggested we tell the students to put the two words together and see if they can give a general definition of individual accountability. Then we would go about teaching our lesson as to what we wrote in the google doc. To wrap up the lesson, we agreed on asking our group why they think individual accountability is effective in cooperative learning. 

        We returned back to our field work groups. I was the first one to present the lesson. I followed the steps as mentioned before. My group seemed fully engaged in my lesson. First, I handed them a handout I made on individual accountability. I pre-assessed their knowledge, gave a direct lesson, and added closure by asking the group if they had questions. I also made a quiz for my group to take. This is the link to my quiz. Then Caitlyn presented. Her topic was positive interdependence. Positive interdependence means that each individual in a group should be supporting their members positively. Each member makes sure they have enough effort for success. Caitlyn assessed our knowledge through a quiz. Rachel taught us about group processing. Group processing is when students come together as a group and collect their ideas. They go through processes together in order to achieve a set goal. Laura taught us about social skills in cooperative learning. Cooperative learning is important because it builds social skills. Students learn social skills such as listening, communicating, and understanding through their other group members. Anne taught us about cooperative learning lesson plans. This means that the teacher creates a lesson plan based on how students will learn cooperatively.

       I thought today's class was effective because I got to see how my other group mates teach. I learned both positive and negative ways of how to teach. It was interesting to see how many things actually go into cooperative learning. I enjoyed learning about these different methods. I saw how hard each of my group members worked in their research and teaching. I think everyone did a nice job. I hope to apply these cooperative learning methods to my teaching. 

this was my handout that I gave to my group members:

Individual Accountability Handout

Taught by: Brianna Croce

˜ What is Individual Accountability?

-Individual accountability means that when students participate in cooperative learning, they each carry a responsibility and role in the group. They are accountable for their own actions & work effort towards the group.

˜ Each individual group member has a goal when working in a group. Members should all have the same quality and quantity put in as an individual.

˜ What are the testing methods for Individual accountability?

1)   oral testing, 2) individualized testing, 3) randomized testing.

˜ How does the teacher oversees individual accountability?

-          Teacher watches the whole group, then checks for each members contributions to the group.

˜ How do students work together and still carry out individual accountability?

1) peer to peer teaching-students teach one another

2) peer to peer editing-one student edits another students work

3) one student checks group’s work.

˜ Overall goal: students learn together as a group, but independently achieve the tasks or goals set by the role they play in the group.

˜ Group discussion: As a group, come up with reasons why you think individual accountability in cooperative learning is effective.

˜ Testing your knowledge: please go online to my quiz link, and take the quiz on this topic.