Cooperative Learning for the Community College Classroom

1. Cooperative Learning for the Community College Classroom Presenters Susan Shearer, Associate Professor of Psychology @ Sociology Greg Hodges, Assistant Dean of Arts, Sciences, and Business Technology PHCC CL Team ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

2. America�s Perfect Storm ETS Policy Information report, 2007 states America is in the midst of a perfect storm. Three forces will impact the future of our nation: Divergent skill distribution Changing Economy Changing Demography

3. Basic Skills ranked as �very important� by 2 yr colleges & Tech school Grads

4. Group Work is Not CL!!! Cooperative Learning Group effort required; Students may be evaluated as a group; Students accountable to each other; Social Skills are improved; Emphasis on process and product. ACTIVITY: INTRODUCTION Bingo? Group Work Little joint effort required; Students evaluated individually; Minimal interaction; Helping and Sharing is minimal; More �free-riders�; Emphasis on product.

5. WELCOME! Patrick Henry Community College�s journey with CL Roger & David Johnson Model http://www.co-operation.org/ PHCC is an �Achieve the Dream� leader college PHCC�s Developmental Education Initiative PHCC�s SCALE http://fpwww.ph.vccs.edu/cl/privacy.asp

6. Why Cooperative Learning? Encourage contact between students and faculty Develops reciprocity and cooperation among students Encourages active learning Give prompt feedback Emphasizes time on task Communicate high expectations Respects diverse talents and ways of learning Meeting Standards Chickering and Gamson (1987); Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education

8. Survival Rates with/without CL First Semester

9. Graduation and Transfer Rates with/without CL First Semester

10. Problem Student Case study �Your cooperative groups are working on long-term projects which will end with presentations to the class. You have given them class time to plan and organize. One group is upset because Stella, one of the members is a chronic absentee. She is continuing to attend school but only 2-3 days a week, and she has not done any of the work the group has asked her to do. Since part of the grade will be based on how well everyone in the group participates, the group is afraid that Stella will bring down the group grade. They want Stella out of the group.� HO: case study

11.  Let the group decide what they want to do. You sit down with the group (without Stella) and discuss some ways to get Stella involved at this time. You sit down with the entire group (Stella, too) and set some firm guidelines for continued participation. You call Stella in your office only and discuss why she needs to participate in the group. You allow Stella to work alone and do a presentation by herself. You (instructor) remove Stella out of the group. resulting in a 0 for Stella, since this is a �group� presentation

12. Roadblocks I cannot cover all the material Student Slackers One Student does all the Work Class it too large Students are unprepared for effective group learning Students do not like CL

13. Types of Cooperative Groups

14. Base Groups Definition: Long-term, heterogeneous groups with stable membership.

15. Purpose & Uses of Base Groups Provide support, encouragement, and assistance in completing assignments. Hold one another accountable for learning tasks Ensure all members are making academic progress. USES: homework check, answer questions from assignments, collect materials for absent member, social support, �celebrate progress!� Handouts: Base group grids & 5x8 CARDS

16. Favorite hobby? One wish? NAME Favorite place What you like most about to escape teaching or �CURRENT OCCUPATION?

17. Informal Cooperative Groups Definition: temporary, ad-hoc groups lasting from a few minutes to one class period. Uses and examples are almost limitless! COOPERATIVE LECTURE

19. WAYS TO LECTURE BUST WITH CL Concept Induction Focus discussion question Advanced Preparation pairs Intermittent Discussion Pairs Turn to neighbor summaries Read & explain pairs Closure focused Discussion pairs Closure note taking pairs Higher-Level Reasoning Pairs

20. Formal Cooperative Groups Definition: groups that last from one class period�to several weeks. Uses: Large Group Projects Group Presentations Group Papers Research Projects

21. 5 Elements of a Formal Cooperative Lesson

22. Formal Cooperative Learning Activity

23. Using cooperative learning !

24. THE END