Using Cooperative Learning to Encourage Higher Order

Thinking

Dunklin R-V School DistrictNew Teacher Orientation

August 15, 2007

What is Higher Order Thinking?

Refers to the higher tiers of Bloom’s Taxonomy & Webb’s Depth

of Knowledge Levels (2) 3-4:

Packet p.2-3

What is Cooperative Learning?

• Key Concepts– Teams (2-4; heterogeneous, homogeneous, random)– Will (Teambuilding & Classbuilding)– Management (signals, roles, modeling)– Skills (social, listening, conflict resolution, tutoring)– PIES– Co-op Strategies/Structures (Kagan, Slavin, Johnson & Johnson)– No Group Grades (unfair, undermine motivation, violate individual accountability)

Packet p.6

Using Questions

•Pairs: Rally Coach•Teams: Fan-N-Pick,

Cubing, Numbered Heads Together

Packet p.7

Rally Coach•Each partner pair gets a set of question cards or questions.•Student A reads the question out loud to student B.•Student B answers. (You may want students to record their answers.)•Student A aids, encourages, & checks B’s answer.•Partners take turns asking and answering each question.•Variation: use white boards to work out answers (students love this)

Packet p.8-9These

directions are on p. 7

of your packet!

Fan-N-Pick

•Student one fans cards.•Student two picks a card & reads it aloud to the team.•Student three gives an answer after 5+ seconds of think time.•After another 5+ seconds of think time, student four paraphrases, praises, or adds to the answer given.•Students rotate roles.

Packet p.10-11These

directions are on p.7

of your packet!

Cubing

• Players take turns rolling the question cube. • The player who rolls the cube thinks for 5+

seconds, then answers the “thinking question” (TQ) that is face up.

• Other players add to the discussion. While the TQ is discussed, the person who rolled the dice acts as the facilitator & summarizes the conversation before the next player rolls the cube.– Variation: use Fan-n-Pick rules– Variation: Students create a mind map as they

discuss to “show” you their thinking (topic in center, each question as a branch…can answer the same question more than once)

Packet p.12-13These

directions are on p.7

of your packet!

Numbered Heads Together•Students number off in each team (each team is numbered.)•Teacher poses a question.•Students discuss the question.•Teacher calls a student number & a team number (overhead spinner, digital spinner, etc.)•The student stands & shares what his or her team discussed.

These directions are on p.7

of your packet!

Question 1

Which of Abraham Lincoln’s character traits is the most admirable? Why?

Question 2

You have been granted one day to go back in history

to become Abraham Lincoln. What would you do differently (besides

NOT going to Ford’s theater)?

Question 3

How might the world be different today if

Abraham Lincoln had never lived?

Journal Writing

•Students pick one question card & make a journal entry or use the question as the prompt for an essay or creative writing assignment.

•Students share their writing with a partner or in turn with teammates.

(When students get acquainted with good higher order thinking questions, they can begin to make their own questions using “Question-Starters.”)

Packet p.14-15

Directions on p.7.Good way to ensure

Individual Accountability after a

Co-op structure.

Organizing Students into Teams

•Heterogeneous groups of 3+ (spin the wagon wheel) or homogenous groups of 3+ (use the color-coded groups)

BillyTrisha

BradMelissa

Sam

Kim

Brittney

Aaron

Kelly

Mike T

.

Gary

Rachel

ShannonSharne

Am

andaC

had

EmilyKelseyZach

Ethan

Tim

Kayla

Joe

Ashley

Step

hSa

raC

hris

Cha

rlie

Em

ma

Lea

h

Jasm

ine

Mik

e A

.

Jay

Aisha

1. ____________________________The Arch

2. ____________________________Busch Stadium

3. ____________________________Soulard Market

4. ____________________________Forest Park

5. ____________________________Laclede’s Landing

6. ____________________________Botanical Gardens

7. ____________________________Fox Theater

8. ____________________________Powell Symphony Hall

•Mixed pairs (St. Louis

Partners)

Packet p.16-17

Ticket to Leave•Look at your graphic

organizer on p.1• Identify one cooperative

learning structure you will try in your classroom—put a star next to it

•On a slip of paper, tell me 1. The content area

topic you will you use it to teach/reinforce, and

2. How you think the learning will be enriched with the strategy.

Good luck!

Call or email if you need anything!

Dena x2010Pam x3010Kelly x4010

Thanks!

PIESPacket p.6

PPositive Interdependence

IIndividual Accountability

E Equal Participation

SSimultaneous Interaction