Cooperative Learning

 COOPERATIVE LEARNING STRATEGIES

Through cooperative learning, students work in small groups or in pairs to actively engage in the learning process and improve their understanding of the content.  Each member of the team is not only responsible for their own learning, but also for helping teammates learn.  Cooperative learning promotes achievement, enhances retention,increases desire and motivation, develops interpersonal and social skills, builds self-
esteem, and improves student satisfaction with their learning experience. Here are some activities that you may apply in your class room. have a nice try and good luck on your class.


CIRCLE THE SAGE

1.  The teacher polls the class to see which students have a special knowledge to
share. For example the teacher may ask who in the class was able to solve a
difficult math homework question, who had visited Mexico, who knows the
chemical reactions involved in how salting the streets help dissipate snow. 
2.  Those students (the sages) stand and spread out in the room. The teacher then
has the rest of the classmates each surround a sage, with no two members of the
same team going to the same sage. 
3.  The sage explains what they know while the classmates listen, ask
questions, and take notes. 
4.  All students then return to their teams.  Each in turn, explains what
they learned.  Because each one has gone to a different sage, they
compare notes. 
5.  If there is disagreement, they stand up as a team. 
6.  The disagreements are discussed as a class and resolved.

COOPERATIVE PLAY

1.  Teacher provides materials needed for activity.  Materials may be placed at a
learning center, at each team table, or rotated from table to table.
2.  Teacher explains any safety issues associated with the materials, but does not
tell students HOW to play with the items. 
3.  Teacher asks: “What can you discover about these materials?”
4.  Students play with materials that they will be using in a lab experiment.

GIVE ONE, GET ONE

1.  Students fold paper in half lengthwise (hotdog style).  Students then open paper
and draw a line down the crease.  At the top of the left column, students write
“GIVE ONE.”  At the top of the right column, students write, “GET ONE.”
2.  Teacher poses a question or a topic with multiple answers and gives a time limit.
3.  Students list as many things as they know in the “GIVE ONE” column.
4.  Teacher tells students to stand, put up hand, and find a partner
5.  Once students have greeted their partner, Partner A gives an answer to Partner
     B.  If Partner B has that answer on his/her paper, he/she checks it off.  If it is a
      new answer, he/she writes it in the “GET ONE” column.  
6.  Partner B gives an answer; Partner A checks or writes. 
7.  Partners say thank you/good-bye, put hand up, and find a new partner.
8.  Continue until teacher says to stop.

  MIX-FREEZE-PAIR

1.  Classmates mix by walking quietly around the room while music is playing.
2.  After about 10 seconds, teacher stops the music and announces, “Freeze.” 
Students immediately stop and stand still.
3.  When everyone is still, teacher announces, “Pair.”  Students pair with the person
closest to them and link arms to show that they are partners.
4.  Teacher announces topic or discussion question.  Give “think time.”
5.  Pairs discuss the topic.  Everyone faces the teacher when they have finished
discussing the topic.
6.  Teacher then announces, “Mix.”  Repeat activity with additional questions.