Cooperative Learning
What is Cooperative Learning?
"Students' learning goals may be structured to promote cooperative, competitive, or individualistic efforts... Cooperation is working together to accomplish shared goals." [Definition of Cooperative Learning from the Cooperative Learning Institute]
Some examples of Cooperative Learning activities include:
Debate Carousel
Think-Pair-Share
Stand Up-Hand Up-Pair Up
Inside-Outside Circles
Quiz-Quiz-Trade
The Handout on Cooperative Learning Techniques includes a number of different cooperative learning techniques. Review the Quiz-Quiz-Trade technique and a video of it in practice in the classroom.
Cooperative Learning in Mobile CSP
The Mobile CSP curriculum is designed keep students engaged and learning actively throughout the course as well as give students experience with collaboration, one of the computational thinking practices in the CSP framework. Debate Carousel is used with the Blown to Bits readings and Think-Pair-Share is used frequently in the Hook/Motivation section of lessons.
Reflection Activity
Reflect on and discuss the following questions:
How would you explain to another teacher what cooperative learning means and how it improves the classroom environment?
How do cooperative learning strategies promote equity in the classroom?