Design and Implementation ofCooperative Learning

Karl A. SmithSTEM Education Center / Technological Leadership Institute /

Civil Engineering – University of Minnesota &Engineering Education – Purdue University

ksmith@umn.edu - http://www.ce.umn.edu/~smith

Grinnell College

June 3, 2014

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Workshop Layout• Welcome and Overview• Further Reflection on Readings/Discussion• Formal Cooperative Learning Rationale and

Principles • Formal Cooperative Learning Strategies

– Cooperative Problem-Based Learning– Cooperative Jigsaw– Cooperative Project-Based Learning

• Aligning outcomes, assessment, and instruction• Design and Implementation

Overall Goal

• Build your repertoire of cooperative learning strategies as well as skills and confidence for implementing them

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Workshop Objectives• Participants will be able to :

– Describe key features of cooperative learning and effective, interactive strategies for facilitating learning

– Build on key elements of Course Design Foundations• How People Learn (HPL)• Understanding by Design (UbD) process – Content

(outcomes) – Assessment – Pedagogy

– Explain key features of and rationale for Cooperative Learning

– Identify connections between cooperative learning and desired outcomes of courses and programs

• Participants will begin applying key elements to the design on a course, class session or learning module

Cooperative Learning is instruction that involves people working in teams to accomplish a common goal, under conditions that involve both positive interdependence (all members must cooperate to complete the task) and individual and group accountability (each member is accountable for the complete final outcome).

Key Concepts

•Positive Interdependence•Individual and Group Accountability•Face-to-Face Promotive Interaction•Teamwork Skills•Group Processing

http://www.ce.umn.edu/~smith/docs/Smith-CL%20Handout%2008.pdf

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Active Learning: Cooperation in the College Classroom

• Informal Cooperative Learning Groups

• Formal Cooperative Learning Groups

• Cooperative Base Groups

Notes: Cooperative Learning Handout (CL College-912.doc)

www.ce.umn.edu/~smith/docs/CL%20College-912.doc

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Book Ends on a Class Session

Smith, K.A. 2000. Going deeper: Formal small-group learning in large classes. Energizing large classes: From small groups to learning communities. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2000, 81, 25-46. [NDTL81Ch3GoingDeeper.pdf]

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Active Learning: Cooperation in the College Classroom

• Informal Cooperative Learning Groups

• Formal Cooperative Learning Groups

• Cooperative Base Groups

See Cooperative Learning Handout (CL College-912.doc)

Formal Cooperative Learning Task Groups

Design team failure is usually due to failed team dynamics (Leifer, Koseff & Lenshow, 1995).

It’s the soft stuff that’s hard, the hard stuff is easy(Doug Wilde, quoted in Leifer, 1997)

Professional Skills(Shuman, L., Besterfield-Sacre, M., and McGourty, J., “TheABET Professional Skills-Can They Be Taught? Can They Be Assessed?” Journal of Engineering Education, Vo. 94, No. 1, 2005, pp. 41–55.)

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http://www.aacu.org/advocacy/leap/documents/Re8097abcombined.pdf

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Top Three Main Engineering Work Activities

Engineering Total• Design – 36%• Computer

applications – 31%

• Management – 29%

Civil/Architectural• Management –

45%• Design – 39%• Computer

applications – 20%

Burton, L., Parker, L, & LeBold, W. 1998. U.S. engineering career trends. ASEE Prism, 7(9), 18-21.

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Pseudo-group

Traditional G roup

C ooperative G roup

H igh-perform ing C ooperative G roup

Individual M em bers

PE

RF

OR

MA

NC

E L

EV

EL

TYPE O F G R O U P

Teamwork

Reflection and Dialogue• Individually reflect on the Characteristics of High

Performing Teams. Think/Write for about 1 minute– Base on your experience on high performing teams, – Or your facilitation of high performing teams in your

classes, or– Or your imagination

• Discuss with your team for about 3 minutes and record a list

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Characteristics of Effective Teams?• students are aware of and build on each other’s strengths•They respect and trust each other•All contribute unique/valuable content•Each person feels they can contribute meaningfully•They working on a project with freedom to explore•People know their roles and take pride in their contribution•Clearly defined tasks•External pressure•There are team and environmental aspects•Deadline & schedule•People take turns – contribute their piece and step back – they care about the project (i.e., group not dominated by one or two people)•Successful team has one person who drives the team•Distributed responsibility•Willing to step back and contribute•?•Next step – what makes an effective team member

A team is a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable

• SMALL NUMBER

• COMPLEMENTARY SKILLS

• COMMON PURPOSE & PERFORMANCE GOALS

• COMMON APPROACH

• MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY

--Katzenbach & Smith (1993)The Wisdom of Teams

Cooperative Learning is instruction that involves people working in teams to accomplish a common goal, under conditions that involve both positive interdependence (all members must cooperate to complete the task) and individual and group accountability (each member is accountable for the complete final outcome).

Key Concepts

•Positive Interdependence•Individual and Group Accountability•Face-to-Face Promotive Interaction•Teamwork Skills•Group Processing

http://www.ce.umn.edu/~smith/docs/Smith-CL%20Handout%2008.pdf

Teamwork Skills

•Communication• Listening and Persuading•Decision Making•Conflict Management•Leadership•Trust and Loyalty

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Active Learning: Cooperation in the College Classroom

• Informal Cooperative Learning Groups

• Formal Cooperative Learning Groups

• Cooperative Base Groups

See Cooperative Learning Handout (CL College-912.doc)

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Professor's Role inFormal Cooperative Learning

1. Specifying Objectives

2. Making Decisions

3. Explaining Task, Positive Interdependence, and Individual Accountability

4. Monitoring and Intervening to Teach Skills

5. Evaluating Students' Achievement and Group Effectiveness

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Decisions,Decisions

Group size? Group selection?Group member roles?How long to leave groups together?Arranging the room?Providing materials?Time allocation?

Personal Response System

• Socrative.com (Socrative Student)• My room 678635

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Optimal Group Size?

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2 3 4 5 6

0% 0% 0%0%0%

A. 2

B. 3

C. 4

D. 5

E. 6

Formal Cooperative Learning Task Groups

Perkins, David. 2003. King Arthur's RoundTable: How collaborative conversations createsmart organizations. NY: Wiley.

Group Selection?

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A B C D E

0% 0% 0%0%0%

A. Self selection

B. Random selection

C. Stratified random

D. Instructor assign

E. Interest

Formal Cooperative Learning – Types of Tasks

1. Jigsaw – Learning new conceptual/procedural material

2. Peer Composition or Editing

3. Reading Comprehension/Interpretation

4. Problem Solving, Project, or Presentation

5. Review/Correct Homework

6. Constructive Controversy

7. Group Tests

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Cooperative Jigsaw

www.jigsaw.org/

JIGSAW SCHEDULE

COOPERATIVE GROUPS (3-4 members)

PREPARATION PAIRS

CONSULTING/SHARING PAIRS

TEACHING/LEARNING IN COOPERATIVE GROUPS

WHOLE CLASS REVIEW

Formal Cooperative Learning – Types of Tasks

1. Jigsaw – Learning new conceptual/procedural material

2. Peer Composition or Editing

3. Reading Comprehension/Interpretation

4. Problem Solving, Project, or Presentation

5. Review/Correct Homework

6. Constructive Controversy

7. Group Tests

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Challenge-Based Learning• Problem-based learning• Case-based learning• Project-based learning• Learning by design• Inquiry learning• Anchored instruction

John Bransford, Nancy Vye and Helen Bateman. Creating High-Quality Learning Environments: Guidelines from Research on How People Learn

Challenge-Based Instruction Cycle

LegacyCycle

The Challenges

Generate Ideas

Multiple Perspectives

Research & Revise

Test Your Mettle

Go Public

55https://repo.vanth.org/portal/public-content/star-legacy-cycle/star-legacy-cycle

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Problem-Based Learning

Problem posed

Identify what weneed to know

Learn it

Apply it

START

First Course Design Experience UMN – Institute of Technology

• Thinking Like an Engineer

• Problem Identification

• Problem Formulation

• Problem Representation

• Problem SolvingProblem-Based Learning

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Problem Based Cooperative Learning FormatTASK: Solve the problem(s) or Complete the project.

INDIVIDUAL: Estimate answer. Note strategy.

COOPERATIVE: One set of answers from the group, strive for agreement, make sure everyone is able to explain the strategies used to solve each problem.

EXPECTED CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS: Everyone must be able to explain the strategies used to solve each problem.

EVALUATION: Best answer within available resources or constraints.

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY: One member from your group may be randomly chosen to explain (a) the answer and (b) how to solve each problem.

EXPECTED BEHAVIORS: Active participating, checking, encouraging, and elaborating by all members.

INTERGROUP COOPERATION: Whenever it is helpful, check procedures, answers, and strategies with another group.

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http://scaleup.ncsu.edu/

http://www.ncsu.edu/PER/scaleup.html

http://web.mit.edu/edtech/casestudies/teal.html#video

65http://tile.uiowa.edu/

Inside an Active Learning Classroom

• STSS at the University of Minnesota

http://vimeo.com/andyub/activeclassroom

“I love this space! It makes me feel appreciated as a student, and I feel intellectually invigorated when I work and learn in it.”

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http://www.udel.edu/inst/

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Project-Based Cooperative Learning

Karl A. SmithEngineering Education – Purdue UniversityCivil Engineering - University of Minnesota

ksmith@umn.eduhttp://www.ce.umn.edu/~smith

Design-Build Project

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Project Based Cooperative Learning FormatTASK: Complete the project.

INDIVIDUAL: Engage. Pay attention to task and group dynamics.

COOPERATIVE: One design from the group. Make sure everyone is able to explain the final design and strategies used to complete the project.

EXPECTED CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS: Everyone must be able to explain the final design and strategies used complete the project.

EVALUATION: Best design within available resources or constraints.

INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY: One member from your group may be randomly chosen to explain (a) the design and (b) the team process.

EXPECTED BEHAVIORS: Active participating, checking, encouraging, and elaborating by all members.

INTERGROUP COOPERATION: Whenever it is helpful, check procedures, answers, and strategies with another group.

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Design-Build Project

The engineering method is design under constraints – Wm. Wulf, Former President, National Academy of Engineering

The engineering method (design) is the use of state-of-the-art heuristics to create the best change in an uncertain situation within the available resources – Billy Koen, Mechanical Engineering Professor, UT-Austin, author Discussion of the Method, 2003, 2011

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Design-Build Project

• Teams of 3-4 – randomly assigned• Experience an iteration of a design

project life cycle in about 30 minutes• Goal is for all teams to meet the

specification (design requirement)• Attend to both the task and the team

work

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Team Member Roles

•Task Recorder•Process Recorder•Time Monitor•Materials Manager

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Process Observer• Observer/ Process

Recorder (non participant role)

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ActionName 1 Name 2 Name 3 Name 4 Total

Contributes Ideas

EncouragesParticipation

Summarizes, Integrates

Total

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ActionName 1 Name 2 Name 3 Name 4 Total

Contributes Ideas

DescribesFeelings

EncouragesParticipation

Summarizes, Integrates

Checks forUnderstanding

Relates New To Old Learning

Gives Direction To Work

Total

Design objectiveDesign and build a tower at least 25 cm high that can support a stack of textbooks. The tower is built from index cards and office tape.

Design rulesMaterials are 100 index cards and one roll of office tapeCards can be folded but not tornNo piece of tape can be longer than 2 inchesTower cannot be taped to the floorTower must be in one piece, and easily transported in one handTime to design and build: 15 minutesHeight is measured from the ground to the lowest corner of the book placed on topTower must support books for at least 10 seconds before the measurement is madeRoom must be cleaned up before measurements are made.

Group Processing Plus/Delta Format

Plus (+)Things That Group Did Well

Delta (∆)Things Group Could Improve

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Teamwork & Project Management Heuristics--Examples

• Identify the weak link and Allocate resources to the weak link• Freeze the design--at some stage in the project (when about 75% of the time or resources are used up) the design must be frozen• Discuss the process and ask meta-level questions, e.g., What are we doing? Why are we doing it? How does it help?

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Professor's Role inFormal Cooperative Learning

1. Specifying Objectives

2. Making Decisions

3. Explaining Task, Positive Interdependence, and Individual Accountability

4. Monitoring and Intervening to Teach Skills

5. Evaluating Students' Achievement and Group Effectiveness

Team Charter

• Team name, membership, and roles• Team Mission Statement• Anticipated results (goals)• Specific tactical objectives• Ground rules/Guiding principles for team participation• Shared expectations/aspirations

Code of Cooperation

•EVERY member is responsible for the team’s progress and success.•Attend all team meetings and be on time.•Come prepared.•Carry out assignments on schedule.•Listen to and show respect for the contributions of other members; be an active listener.•CONSTRUCTIVELY criticize ideas, not persons.•Resolve conflicts constructively,•Pay attention, avoid disruptive behavior.•Avoid disruptive side conversations.•Only one person speaks at a time.•Everyone participates, no one dominates.•Be succinct, avoid long anecdotes and examples.•No rank in the room.•Respect those not present.•Ask questions when you do not understand.•Attend to your personal comfort needs at any time but minimize team disruption.•HAVE FUN!!•?

Adapted from Boeing Aircraft Group Team Member Training Manual

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Ten Commandments: An Affective Code of Cooperation

• Help each other be right, not wrong.• Look for ways to make new ideas work, not for reasons they won't.• If in doubt, check it out! Don't make negative assumptions about each other.• Help each other win, and take pride in each other's victories.• Speak positively about each other and about your organization at every opportunity.• Maintain a positive mental attitude no matter what the circumstances.• Act with initiative and courage, as if it all depends on you.• Do everything with enthusiasm; it's contagious.• Whatever you want; give it away.• Don't lose faith.• Have fun

Ford Motor Company

Team Charter Examples & Research

• Team Charter – Developed by Vivian Corwin and Marilyn A. Uy for COM 321 (Organizational Behaviour) Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria

• Group Ground Rules Contract Form – Developed by Deborah Allan, University of Delaware

• Mathieu, John E. & Rapp, Tammy L. 2009. Laying the foundation for successful team performance trajectories: The role of team charters and performance strategies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(1), 90-103

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Group Ground Rules Contract Form (Adapted from a form developed by Dr. Deborah Allen, University of Delaware)

Project groups are an effective aid to learning, but to work best they require that all groups members clearly understand their responsibilities to one another. These project group ground rules describe the general responsibilities of every member to the group. You can adopt additional ground rules if your group believes they are needed. Your signature on this contract form signifies your commitment to adhere to these rules and expectations. All group members agree to:

1. Come to class and team meetings on time. 2. Come to class and team meetings with assignments and other necessary

preparations done. Additional ground rules:

1.

2. If a member of the project team repeatedly fails to meet these ground rules, other members of the group are expected to take the following actions: Step 1: (fill in this step with your group) If not resolved: Step 2: Bring the issue to the attention of the teaching team. If not resolved: Step 3: Meet as a group with the teaching team. The teaching team reserves the right to make the final decisions to resolve difficulties that arise within the groups. Before this becomes necessary, the team should try to find a fair and equitable solution to the problem. Member’s Signatures: Group Number:______________ 1.____________________________ 2.____________________________

3.____________________________ 4.____________________________

90Mathieu, John E. & Rapp, Tammy L. 2009. Laying the foundation for successful team performance trajectories: The role of team charters and performance strategies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(1), 90-103

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Active Learning: Cooperation in the College Classroom

• Informal Cooperative Learning Groups

• Formal Cooperative Learning Groups

• Cooperative Base Groups

See Cooperative Learning Handout (CL College-912.doc)

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Cooperative Base Groups• Are Heterogeneous• Are Long Term (at least one quarter or

semester)• Are Small (3-5 members)• Are for support• May meet at the beginning of each session or

may meet between sessions• Review for quizzes, tests, etc. together• Share resources, references, etc. for

individual projects• Provide a means for covering for absentees

Edmonson-Competitive_Advantage_of_Learning-HBR-2008.pdf

Designing and Implementing Cooperative Learning

• Think like a designer• Ground practice in robust theoretical

framework• Start small, start early and iterate• Celebrate the successes; problem-solve

the failures

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