I believe that cooperative learning is very important when it comes to student interaction. Unfortunately with so many students in all the classes it is hard to really meet other people. In specials the students in the various classes are mixed. This gives a great opportunity for other students to meet each other. But students tend to stick with others that they know. I try to incorporate many activities that involve cooperative games and team building. In the chapter Cooperate learning it describes “ five basic components: 1. Positive interdependence ( sink or swim together) This strategy involves students working together if they succeed then the whole group will, but if not than everyone will be unsuccessful. 2. Face to Face, promotive interaction. ( helping each other to learn, applauding efforts and success) When students cheer on their group members giving positive support is extremely important in building team work. 3. Individivual and group accountability- Each student must contribute for the team to be successful. The slacking members will not help the team succeed. 4. Interpersonal and small group skills. Communication, trust, leadership, decision making, and conflict resolution) this is the most important one. Being able to communicate with your group members working together to achieve a goal. 5. Group processing (reflecting on how well the team is functioning and how to function even better). It’s good to ask questions after the activities to see what the students thought they could do better, or what things that was difficult for their group to achieve the goal (Pitler, 2007).
Voice thread is an interesting way to learn about a particular object. The voice thread orientation discussed how it worked. I found it very interesting about the mother in the photo with her children. She was reflecting on what was happening on the day the photograph was taken. Then each child gave their account on what they were thinking. This is a great tool for students to learn about a subject but even families to know more about their heritage.
Instructional strategies and social learning theories correlate together when collaborating with other members in a group to come to a solution. Many different strategies that help students learn especially involving activities built around social learning theories. Cooperative games are a way to incorporate student involvement to achieve a goal.
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I believe in many of theories presented with social learning theories. I believe positive interdependance, face to face interaction, accountability, small groups skills, and other small components must be in place for the groups to function. However, as an educator is it difficult for you to see some groups being carried by one or two individuals and the groups either benefits through this or is not fucntioning?
ReplyDeleteI think that cooperative activities are great for starting off the year. In P.E. there are so many skills that can be related to the activities completed and students don't feel threatened because everyone is usually on a level playing field. Do you have any unique cooperative activities that you do in your class through the year?
ReplyDeleteWe do many different cooperative games. We usually setup stations that students work together in groups. One game we play is "Lost Island" it involves using a scooter, a mat, and a jump rope the object of the game is to get everyone onto the island by pushing the person one at a time on the scooter to the other island, but if any body part touches the ground they all have to come back and start over. This works really well with the older elem kids.
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