Cooperative+Learning

=Read and Reflect=

How do you currently apply this strategy without the use of technology? I utilized cooperative groups in my classes but I was always left wondering? Should I choose the groups or let the kids choose? How should I deal with the slackers in the group and help the workers? How can I ensure that no one student does all the work? Should I use homogeneous groups or heterogeneous groups? I did like to use a set of evaluations where the students evaluated each other.

What new insight did you gain from the reading? I had a number of problems with my cooperative groups. I tried to address them by building in ways for students to feel that they weren't unfairly worked. I learned from the readings that the design of the assignment is very important. That for cooperative groups to be truly successful they have to be well designed and they must be set up so that only by everyone doing their part is the foundation of their success. I appreciate that different organizations of groups are appropriate for different purposes. It's good to know that their is a definitive answer about ability grouping... heterogeneous is best.

=Apply and Reflect=

Provide evidence of the tool that you learned.

How might you use this tool in your classroom? I would use this tool to allow students to collaborate on documents. I would also use it to have students submit documents to me.