Auto evaluation about Coperative Learning

Introducing Co-operative Learning
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Introducing Cooperative Learning
Objective: to study basic definitions of Cooperative Learning, and to distinguish between CL and traditional group work.
A. Activating Background Knowledge…
1. Reflect on these questions:
 What do I know about Cooperative Learning?
 What experience do I have with this approach?
 What would I like to know about it? Why?
2. This is an off-line task for you to reflect on your learning process. Once you participate in the FORUM: Getting to know each other, complete the following chart:
K / W / L Chart What I know What I want to know What I learned *
* You will complete this column once you have finished this unit.
3. What did you partners state in the forum? Compare your answers. Is there anything you would like to add to your chart?
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B. Defining Cooperative Learning…
1. Carefully read the following definitions of Cooperative Learning.
“Cooperative learning is group learning activity organized so that learning is dependent on the socially structured exchange of information between learners in groups and in which each learner is held accountable for his or her own learning and is motivated to increase the learning of others” (Richards & Rogers, 2001).
“Cooperative learning is the instructional use of small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each other’s learning” (Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec, 1993).
“Cooperative learning, a particular type of active learning, is a formal instructional approach in which students work together in small teams to accomplish a common learning goal. It is important to understand that cooperative learning is fundamentally different than simply asking students to work together to complete a task” (Foundation Coalition: Active/Cooperative Learning, 2002).
“…most cooperative approaches involve small, heterogeneous teams, usually of four or five members, working together towards a group task in which each member is individually accountable for part of an outcome that cannot be completed unless the members work together; in other words, the group members are positively interdependent” (California Department of Education (2001) as cited in Trujillo, 2002).
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2. From the definitions you read, which concepts do you consider are the basis of the CL approach? Write 5 of them down in the diagram below.
3. How are these five concepts interrelated? Summarize your ideas in the following lines.
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C. Testing your understanding…
1. Watch the video TEAM WORK (uploaded to the virtual classroom) at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF80RqLkl6E or/and look at the following pictures and answer the question below:
a) b)
2. What are three important elements from the definitions of Co-op Learning that can be depicted in the video / picture? Explain each one of them.
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a) A group of sculptors working together on their work of art for a sand sculpture’s competition that takes place every year in Jesolo-Venice.
b) Ancient Egypt: a sculpture created in 2004.
According to the organization committee, “Each team member stimulates the other and this synergy creates a very pleasing, and often surprising, collective result. By the end of the training they have created a work that all are proud of. The net result to the client is individual integral comprehension of the necessity of working together. This fosters mutual appreciation between not only the team members, but also between the teams themselves, as they recognize the contribution each team has made to the project as a whole” (Taken from http://sandconstructions.wordpress.com)
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D. Assessment Task – Questionnaire #1
1. Read the following definition of Cooperative Learning stated by Kagan Spencer (1994).
Cooperative Learning
Cooperative learning is a successful teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject. Each member of a team is responsible not only for learning what is taught but also for helping teammates learn, thus creating an atmosphere of achievement. Students work through the assignment until all group members successfully understand and complete it.
Cooperative efforts result in participants striving for mutual benefit so that all group members:
 Gain from each other's efforts. (Your success benefits me and my success benefits you.)
 Recognize that all group members share a common fate. (We all sink or swim together here.)
 Know that one's performance is mutually caused by oneself and one's team members. (We cannot do it without you.)
 Feel proud and jointly celebrate when a group member is recognized for achievement. (We all congratulate you on your accomplishment!).
Taken from: http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm
3. Compare it with the definitions presented at the beginning of this session.
4. Now, compare your definition of traditional group work with the concept of co-operative learning (CL) from the definitions presented in this session. How are they similar/different? Use the diagram provided to outline your ideas. Include at least six different ideas. Then, write your answers in a word document and submit your work in Assignment Dropbox #2.
Coop-Learning Project, 2011 / Domian, González, Porras and Rodríguez. Page 7
TRADITIONAL COOPERATIVE
GROUP WORK LEARNING
Coop-Learning Project, 2011 / Domian, González, Porras and Rodríguez. Page 8
Thanks a lot for your valuable response!!!
For this assessment task, you will be graded according to the following criteria:
 Explaining at least six different ideas, the trainee was able to compare his/her own concept of traditional group work with the definitions of co-operative learning (CL) presented. Outstanding
( ) Satisfactory
( ) Unsatisfactory
( )
Comments: ________________________________________________________
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