I have always loved thinking about what projects I would do with future students. I could have them build roller coasters or race cardboard boats. The possibilities are endless. Recently, however, I've come to realize there is much more planning behind projects then what one would initially think. In order to promote engaged learning, equal participation, and also individual growth, its important to teach students how to successfully work together as a team.
After a class discussion, I did a bit more research on my own and discovered the diagram shown above. Cooperative learning is more than just group work. Students have to feel that they belong, that they matter, and that what they are doing is important. The diagram shows four major aspects to cooperative learning:
- Equal participation. Many times when students are grouped together, there is always that one person who ends up doing all of the work. The project needs to be planned in a way that gives everyone a job.
- Positive Interdependence. Do not call them a group, call them a team. "There is no 'I' in team". They need to want to work for each other, as well as for themselves.
- Individual Accountability. This goes hand-in-hand with the numbers 1 and 2. Though they are working in a team, it is important to remember that each individual is accountable for some part of the project. The team will fail if not every member does their own job.
- Simultaneous Interaction. Once again, all of these aspects tie in together. One person cannot go off and operate on their own, it must be done collectively, as a team.