{"id":1410,"date":"2018-10-03T20:27:30","date_gmt":"2018-10-04T00:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/edt431-531\/?p=1410"},"modified":"2018-10-03T20:27:30","modified_gmt":"2018-10-04T00:27:30","slug":"teamwork-makes-the-dream-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/2018\/10\/teamwork-makes-the-dream-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Teamwork: Makes the dream work"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are two kinds of people in the world…<\/h2>\n

1. People who like group work<\/h3>\n

2. People who HATE group work<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

(I’ve worked in groups that were worse off than these dogs)<\/h6>\n

I fall into the second category (mostly), and I think I have some mostly valid reasons for it. BUT… group work is the most effective tool for teaching some skills and can be a truly vital part of the classroom (if it’s done well).<\/p>\n

The trick is using a method called Cooperative Learning<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h6>\n

Cooperative learning is essentially a set of parameters and methods used to make group work effective.<\/p>\n

There are a few essential rules you’ve got to follow when employing a cooperative learning lesson.<\/p>\n

There are NO slackers<\/h2>\n

All of the kids need to put the work in. If there is dead weight in the boat, it will sink. The kids need to responsible to each other as much as they are responsible to\u00a0you.<\/p>\n

There are a bunch of ways to ensure that this happens. I’m gonna fill you in on two of them. One of which I’ve seen my teachers use in the past, and one (my new favorite) which I learned pretty recently in a class I’m taking now (shout out to Dr. Ann Mackenzie)<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Have the students complete their own work or learn a separate\u00a0concept on their own first. If they are all completing work on their own first, they can’t rely on each other for the entire assignment<\/li>\n
  2. Give them all a different color marker (pen, pencil, etc…). That comes with a few simple rules; nobody switches colors, and every color has to show up on the final project. This way everyone is forced to participate and you can look at the project and immediately see who did what. Genius<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    They’ve\u00a0got to NEED each other<\/h2>\n

    You need to create some kind of interdependence. It’s\u00a0vitally important to the strength of the team that they work together.<\/p>\n

    \"\"Maybe they have information that the rest of the group needs. Maybe only they are able to use a specific tool to complete a specific task. Maybe they have a unique or particular skill they need to apply. The important thing is that everyone has a role to play, and they all need to fill their role. Like a good heist movie, every bit of the puzzle has to fit perfectly into place.<\/p>\n

    FAIR evaluation<\/h2>\n

    The team needs to know what they need to do to accomplish their goal. The guidelines for success should be clear and reasonable. Any evaluation should mandate that the group work cooperatively and effectively as a unit.<\/p>\n