Cooperative Learning

• Organizing groups based on ability should be done sparingly.
• Cooperative groups should be kept small in size.
• Cooperative learning should be applied consistently and systematically, but not overused.
  

• Use a variety of criteria for grouping students.
• Use avariety of group patterns:  Informal or ad hoc (last few minutesof a class period), formal (long enough to complete an academicproject) and base groups (semester or year, providing students withlong-term support).
• Managing group size - keep groups small.
• Combine cooperative learning with other classroom strategies.

 
• Title:  The Great Solar System Rescue, The Great Ocean, Tom Snyder Products
     
  • Grade Level:  5-8
  • Curricular Area:  Science
  • Description:  Students must use cooperative learning inorder to solve the problems presented.
  • Website link:    http://www.tomsnyder.com
     
• Title:   WebQuests 
  • Grade Level:  All grade levels
  • Curricular Areas:  All content areas
  • Website link:  http://webquest.org
    
• Title:  George Lucas Foundation Instructional Module 
  • Grade Level:
  • Curricular Area:
  • Description:These activities introduce the participants to numerous educational Websites. They promote Internet use with all grade levels.   
  • Website Link:  http://www.edutopia.org/modules/TI/resources.php
       

• Title: Word Processing 
  • Grade Level:
  • Curricular Area:
  • Description: Students can collaborate, share information and peer edit using theComments or Track Changes features.  Students can collaboratewriting progressive stories.
  • Resources:   MS Word
  • Website Link:   http://www.microsoft.com/education
       

• Title:  Email 
  • Grade Level:
  • Curricular Area:
  • Description: Students could join e-pal projects, share documents via attachments.
  • Resources: 
       
  • Website Link:  Gaggle email -  http://www.gaggle.net - provides teacher-controlled email student accounts for them to exchange and share information. 
• Title:  Multimedia Project
  • Grade Level:
  • Curricular Area:
  • Description:
  • Resources (Files, Websites, etc.):  Slide show, movie editing, graphics applications.
    
    
  • Website Link: Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Website Link: Apple iMovie   
  • Website Link: Adobe Premiere Elements
  • Website Link: Appleworks
  • Website Link: Macromedia Fireworks
  • Website Link: Adobe Illustrator
  • Website Link: Adobe Photoshop Element
  
  
• Title:  Web page editing
  
     
  • Grade Level:
  • Curricular Area:
  • Description:
  • Resources:  
  • Website Link:  Manila -  http://manila.userland.com/ to share information.
    
    
• Title:  Spreadsheets
  
  • Grade Level:
  • Curricular Area:
  • Description:
  • Resources:  Microsoft Excel
  • Website Link:  http://www.microsoft.com/education

• Title:  Resources
  • Grade Level:
  • Curricular Area: any
  • Description: Screen Timer allows teachers to set a timer on their computer screen. This is especially helpful when doing cooperative learning activities.
  • Resources:
  • Website Link:  http://www.ncrtec.org/timer/
    
• Title:  Resources
  • Grade Level:
  • Curricular Area: any
  • Description: Virtual Timer allows teachers to set a timer on their computer screen. This is especially helpful when doing cooperative learning activities.
  • Resources:
  • Website Link:  http://www.timeme.com/timer.htm