Cooperative Learning Strategies

[Greg Schwanke]

I am new to this network and I thought I start off by asking for some tips or ideas. I am passionate about technology in the classroom and I am looking for ideas or tips about incorporating cooperative learning strategies with technology in the classroom. I am switching content areas next year, from English to computer applications, and I am looking to do some cooperative learning things in my class via blogs, web cams, etc. I would like to know if any of you have used any of those tools in class and I would like to know how you went about doing so. Also, if anybody has used any other types of cooperative learning strategies besides technology in your classroom I would also like to know about them as well. I am really looking to engage my students more in the classroom and I believe one way to do that is through cooperative learning. Being that I am relatively young in the teaching profession (I will be beginning my third year) I figured there is no better way to learn new strategies than ask fellow teachers, especially ones who share the same passion of education technology as I do. Thanks in advance for all you do.

[John Faig]

Greg,

Welcome aboard. Check out my wiki and let me know if you have follow-up questions. I made it for the teachers that I support, but it has been helpful to others.

Good Luck,
JDF

[Greg Schwanke]

How can I access your wiki? I can't seem to find it.

Thanks for your help

Greg

[Greg Schwanke]

Sorry as soon as I sent you a message I found your wiki.

My bad

Greg

[Kevn Rea]

Greg

I do appreciate your passion for cooperative learning platforms. We (Mentor research Institute) are currently are working on a project to help kids learn about and better use their Strengths based upon the science of Positive Psychology. I especially like the idea of projects that are designed to involve sister or brother type community awareness through pilot programs in different geographic areas such as South Africa, England or just simply other sates with the same basic demographics.
Lots of potential. Where is it that you teach and what is your main subject?

Best Regards

Kevin Rea

Director

[Greg Schwanke]

I teach at a middle school in Omaha, Nebraska. I will be beginning my third year of teaching this year teaching middle school computer applications. However, for the past two years I have been teaching 7th grade English. Please tell me a little more about what it is that you do with the Mentor research Institute. I am also really passionate about educational technology and all the implications that come with that to improve instruction. I think cooperative learning activites can really benefit from technology.

Thanks

Greg Schwanke

[Kevn Rea]

Hello again Greg

Years ago I visited the Arbor Day Foundation Headquarters in Nebraska City and well remember flying into Omaha and seeing I think Casino Lights?....We are currently working with Junior Achievement Washington and Southern California on a project called the JA Effect and, as designed, this particular project is meant to bring the precepts of Positive Psychology into play as we review and measure the Junior Achievement Experience. No matter weather it is computer applications, English or many other subjects the psychology of engagement with the children of today is where our focus can be helpful. For starters I suggest a little familiarity with the science through a quick look online at the U Penn Authentic Happiness Site http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx
Please take the VIA Signature Strengths Questionnaire and enjoy the discovery
We have a new site still needing a lot of work but ultimately will be our platform designed to encourage the exploration and viral involvement with three different demographics 11-17, 18-29, and 30 and over please understand that this is still a long way from where we are headed but thought I would share it with you just the same (www.positivetoolbox.org). Our general mission has been helping Parents with screening tools designed to help with at-risk issues. Now we are evolving into the power of what is right vs. the prevalent over focus in weaknesses and or what is wrong. The basic premise is that we all have a unique set of strengths and weaknesses and the sooner we shift the focus into what is right the stronger we will be to handle or weaknesses.

Please check this out and let me know your thoughts

Best regards

Kevin~
Director
Mentor Research Institute
[e-mail]

[Vicki Martinez]

Go to the Kagan strategies workshop or online site : http://www.kaganonline.com/ . This company offers workshops, materials..

[John Faig]

Greg,

If you are still teaching English consider the following cooperative activities:

1) peer editing of written work (via blogs or Google Docs)
2) have students write alternative endings to a story and defend it using real aspects from the story
3) have groups write a story using a picture as a prompt; each member is responsible for a different part of the story (beginning, middle, end). If you are teaching story components, then each member could be in charge of a different part: setting, plot, protagonist, twist, conclusion, character development, etc.

[Greg Schwanke]

The info you provided me is helpful because part of my job is tech initator, so I can definately pass on the info. However, next year I will be teaching middle school computer applications. Have you used technology with cooperative learning strategies in a computer apps class? Your wiki site was also very helpful.

Thanks

Greg

[Laurel Gruhn]

Well, I'm not new to the profession, teaching both middle school English AND computer for 26 years. I love technology and decided since our school sits on the Mississippi River (Sabula, Iowa), the computer technology could integrate with that theme easily. So the class became Mississippi River Research and Computer. We begin with web pages using iWeb, and they help each other create their web pages. They have a couple pages of their own profile, then they must research their families and do surveys (Excel charts) of regional heritage. Those charts become jpgs and go on their web pages, photo page. They collaborate on podcasts and I let them choose their topics, anything from river themes (one girl did the Muppets - Jim Henson born in Mississippi) - Another boy did "noodling" which is catfishing by grabbing them out of their holes in the river, a couple girls interviewed their coach and had a neat sports related podcast. The podcasts went on the podcast page of iWeb. Another page on iWeb was a movie page and theirs had to feature the riverboats that go by Sabula, replete with calliope music- went on the movie page of iWeb. Class also created brochures for the local Welcome Center using Word or Keynote. They each created one brochure of interests in Sabula and area, and the they help each other in the problem solving areas- this is the great thing with technology and collaboration-- the tech savvy ones love to help those who struggle. As long as you have a "rich" theme, as I did with the nearby river, you've got it made.

Collaboration can either be very productive or very useless depending on the goal or outcome of the collaboration. I've learned the hard way through the years, that just putting them in groups to work on something together "don't cut it." There needs to be a tangible goal and intriguing format to get them all to work. Since we have laptops for our students, one productive activity is to get maybe 3 kids together in a group with their computers and approach a problem or activity with Internet sources as springboard. And so forth...

I like what I read in this discussion. We're just getting into Google Docs and blogs. I started a blog for the summer with my students so they can keep up with each other and me, plus get used to blogs. Our middle school (6-8) has between 85 and 90 students, by the way.

[Linda Bennett]

Thanks for the great info! Our school has limited computers (none in my classrooms, long line for the computer lab) so I'm struggling a bit with how to integrate more technology into my lessons. What did you have kids use to do their blogs and pod casts?

-Linda ;-)