The Four Basic principles to Co-operative Learning.

Positive Interdependence –solidarity; social responsibility

Individual Accountability – self help; self responsibility

Equal Participation –democracy; equality

Social Simultaneous Interaction – solidarity; caring for others

Brain friendly teaching

This aligns information processing with how the brain learns best through dialogue, routines(structures) with regard to the emotional safety and physical nourishment of the brain.

In a Co‐operative Classroom…

• Students receive training in small group social skills through teambuilding and class building activities.

• Teacher facilitates/drives the activity through the use of specified tasks.

• All students need to work together in order to accomplish the learning outcome.

• The conditions of Positive Interdependence, Individual Accountability, Equal Participation and Simultaneous Interaction are met.

• Activities are structured with each student having a specific role.

• The teacher observes, listens and intervenes in a group when necessary.

At each moment you have a choice about your interactions...

Traditional Oral “who can tell me..”Written “work alone…”

solo

Group work

Oral “discuss with a friend..”Written “work together..”

Unstructured dialogue

Co-operative

Oral: rally robin; timed pair share; 3 step interview…Written: rally table; round table; team statements…

Structured interaction

Performance level

Group effectiveness

Traditional class room

Pseudo group

Cooperative learning groups

High performing cooperative

group

Discussion points

• What does a cooperative classroom look like, feel like and sound like?

• What is the difference between a ‘teaching’ school and a ‘learning school’ in terms of cooperation

• How do we switch the emphasis from ‘work’ to ‘learning’?