In a previous post, I spent some time discussing “Misconceptions of Cooperative Learning” where I talked about the need for assignments to actually show some type of cooperation. In other words, rather than just throwing a name on something, I would advocate that we actually instill the practice and teach our kids to work together. Crazy idea, I know.
Well now I am going to tell you that there is even more to it than getting kids to talk and discuss within their isolated kingdoms that are commonly referred to as “groups”. In addition to emphasizing the points in my original post about the need for actual collaboration in collaborative project, we need to work with kids to understand that it isn’t against the rules to share resources across groups.
Too often, group projects end up being kids doing research and compiling ideas in isolation as though they are each Major League Baseball teams. Does anyone else realize how ridiculously stupid this concept is? If projects are created in a rigorous fashion that requires advanced thinking and development of ideas at a high level then groups SHOULD be sharing resources, ideas, and ruminations.
I advocate for teachers to set up online discussion forums for kids to post research articles, random thoughts on assignment topics, and questions that they are stumbling to overcome. I also advocate for teachers to set up sections of wall space in their classroom for students to do the same thing. Much of this goes advocates for the type of instruction in cooperative learning that I think we need to push for vs. what a lot of people are currently doing or consider to be “facilitating”.
This type of behavior won’t come easy after years of “us vs. them” schooling, but that’s why we need to prod and poke (metaphorically) students to share this way. If you are one of those people who says “every group needs to display mastery on their own” then I hope you realize that your kids will never achieve the best answer possible. Instead they will always be limited to the capabilities of themselves and the other members of their groups.
I much prefer the “shared knowledge” of today’s world to the “hoard knowledge” of yesterday’s.
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Aaron, Great Post! I agree. Plus this type of group learning just makes project frustrating and boring and almost like busy work.
Again I will recommend Ron Berger’s An Ethic for Excellence
It discusses a classroom build around works of excellence, that are a practice in beauty, quality and teamwork. We must create a culture where learning does not mean just finishing a project or just get an A is the goal. We need teachers who respect the fact that children of all ages and ability can create good work and purposeful work. Purposeful work is not just group work. It is work that takes a group because you have to pool your minds and resources to create something new and solve the problems that are faced.
David
Nice distinctions. Sometimes an approach that has worked for me is for everyone to take on the same problem. With each team working on a different part. In an art school it was pretty easy. A team of print designers, web designers, researchers, product developers, etc.
The really tricky part is to have crystal clear goals. It’s best if they are agreed upon goals by all the kids. But, in my experience if the kids cannot get to agreement on goals, at some point early in the process , the teacher/mentor/leader does everyone a big favor defining those goals for them.
“I also advocate for teachers to set up sections of wall space in their classroom for students to do the same thing.”
Love that idea – especially because it is something the tech-resistant can incorporate into their classroom and accomplish similar (and distinct) cooperation as forums can.
I’m sure I’ll meet some resistance here … but I think along the lines of your post – that kids should get a lifeline during a test.
True if we just offer it as such – could/would get abused… but if we’re creating the class you’re describing above (which i love) – and kids start to get the true essence of collaboration.. I’m thinking their call out during a test won’t be seen as an easy out… but rather… how can I pick my best resource and take this to another level.
Michael,
I really like your idea of turning the project into a class-wide mechanism. It also makes me think that it might be a way to bridge collaboration virtually across multiple classes using some type of technology and really “blow the doors off” the assignment. Thanks for the idea and the comment!
Another great post. I find that teachers don’t in fact teach kids how to collaborate- or understand how to set up group work. Very often the groups are too big. Very often the task would be better done independently. Led a group learning about this a few years ago and think it is time to revisit- lots of good research out there.