Teacher Rockstar Academy

Research and investigate cooperative learning strategies on websites like Edutopia or Teachhub and search for these terms:

• Cooperative learning strategies
• Cooperative learning roles
• Cooperative learning activities

Once you have learned about more cooperative learning strategies, identify 2 cooperative learning strategies or activities that you will use in your classroom.

Watch the following YouTube videos on collaborative learning:

Collaborative Learning by Dan Lamothe

Benefits of Collaborative Learning by MsMoLovesMath

I want you to think about these questions for a moment

1. With less teacher involvement in group work, what are some of the challenges you anticipate occurring with collaborative learning? How would you overcome them?
2. Why do you think collaborative learning is beneficial to your students?
3. One of the videos discussed collaborative learning in the virtual world, how could you translate this into the live classroom?

Still not sure about the difference between cooperative learning and collaborative learning? That is understandable as so many sources use the terms interchangeably.

Watch the following YouTube video:

Cooperative vs Collaborative Learning by wufei87

After watching the video, write down how you see the difference between cooperative and collaborative learning. Provide an example of each in your explanation.

When do you use cooperative learning and when do you use collaborative learning? This is a tough question to answer because they are very interconnected. Here are some recommendations:

• Use cooperative learning with grades K-2
• Use cooperative learning for all grades at the beginning of the year while you are getting to know your students
• Use collaborative learning with grades 3 and up to help teach them responsibility
• Use collaborative learning for inquiry based projects
• Use collaborative learning for any class that has a strong foundation in cooperative learning

Let’s see partner choice in action when students are allowed to choose their own partners with some guidance. Watch the following video.

Choosing a Partner (Interactive Modeling) by Responsive Classroom

After watching the video, answer the following questions:

• What did you notice about the structure the teacher had set up for partner choice?
• How did the teacher ensure students didn’t just choose their best friend?
• What role did respect play in this process?
• What did you like about this process?
• What would you do differently?

Time to get creative! Using what you know about expectations for successful and respectful group and partner work in the classroom, create your own anchor chart. Make an anchor chart that students can refer back to when they drift off course from the expectations you have established from their work. Remember to make it clear, concise, visually appealing, and, most importantly, at grade level.

Classroom Setup

Remember the third teacher in the room? That teacher is incredibly important in cooperative or collaborative learning. Partners and groups need a place where they can work comfortably and access the materials they need for their work.

Thinking about your classroom, ask yourself if you have the space to accommodate group work. If you don’t, consider rearranging your room so that this need can be met.

Consider the materials required for group projects, are they in a location that is accessible to materials managers as they go to get supplies for their groups? If not, make sure to relocate the supplies to a centralized location.

Think back on group work you have participated in and take a personal inventory. Reflecting on your experience, I want you to think about these questions.

• Do you like group work? Why or why not?
• What strengths do you bring to groups that you work with?
• What are your weaknesses when it comes to working with others?
• What conflicts have you experienced in group work?
• What could you do to avoid similar conflicts in the future?
• How can this information inform how you teach group work in your class?