Cooperative+Learning

Read and Reflect
How do you currently apply this strategy with or without technology?

I was first introduced to cooperative learning in a week-long workshop during the summer many years ago. It was a strategy that I used frequently in the classroom and with great success. It did require work on the front end to model/teach roles and expectations. I also found the use of rubrics very helpful in keeping the group focused.

As I read the article, there are many similarities to the current work being done in the district to establish collaboration among teachers using the PLC model. The purpose for both is to accomplish an identified goal and structures are in place to assist. Though I didn't call it this at the time, those positive structures are norms which assist with communication, decision making, conflict, and time managment. There is an interdependence with each member having resources to accomplish the goal. Independence also is evident in that each member has a specific role in accomplishing the goal. Each person in the group is accountable.

As in PLC model and cooperative learning, you just can't put a group of people together and expect success. Protocols need to be modeled and taught. Groups also have to focus on the right things - know their purpose and tasks.

Both students and adults benefit from collaboration - learn and support from each other,

Apply and Reflect
Provide evidence of the tool that you learned.

I was first introduced to Google Docs when taking 23 Things for Administrators. To be honest, I haven't used it since then. Although, I have had a few people send me documents on Google Docs, but not for collaborative purposes. However, I'm beginning to see the power of it. Perhaps this comes after emailing documents to many individuals for feedback, having returned, cutting and pasting changes, and then sending out again. (I also might add the frustration of losing some along the way.) Now, I can think of several applications. One is for the review of draft common assessments, however, I did try and upload one and found the file too large. This also happened with a few PowerPoints that I tried. I also thought this would be a great way to share a piece of data and send it out for reflections. I'm also working on the schedule for the District QAR - this could be refined through Google Docs with less time at meetings and emails back and forth.

I am going to give it a try with information needed to log professional development. I plan to develop a chart or Excel sheet and send to building administrators to log professional development activities. That way everyone will have access and it will be in one file.