Designing & Implementing Small Group Assignments

That Improve Student Learning & Address IDEA Outcomes

Before you are seated, please look inside the back of your nametag for a slip of colored paper. Please seat yourself at the table bearing a sheet of paper of the

same color. Thank you!

Facilitator: Dr. Claire Lamonica, Associate Director, CTLT

Name Department What kinds of work do

professionals in your field complete in groups?

Introductions

participated in a variety of group undertakings

suitable for use in your own classrooms been introduced to some of the theory and

research related to cooperative and collaborative learning

begun designing a cooperative or collaborative project suitable for use in courses you’ll be teaching in the spring

By the conclusion of this workshop I hope you will have. . .

Work with the other people seated at your table to create a NAME and LOGO to represent your group. Draw the logo and write the name on the paper provided. When you are finished, post your name & logo on a wall near your table.

You will have about 20 minutes to complete this task.

Group Task 1:

Team Name and Logo

What effect did the completion of this first activity have on you as an individual and as a member of the group? Would it be productive to engage student groups in similar kinds of activities? Why or why not?

Individual Reflection #1

Step 1: Take about 3 minutes to reflect in writing on what an outstanding

group member looks like. In other words: What are the characteristics or attributes that distinguish an outstanding group member?

Step 2: Take about 3 minutes to reflect in writing on what a “nightmare” group member looks like. In other words: What are the characteristics or attributes that distinguish an exceptionally poor group member?

Step 3: IN YOUR GROUPS, use the Group Task Sheet provided to guide your group as you create a shared understanding of what it will take for an individual member of your group to earn an A, C, or F for his/her participation in the group.

You have about 20 minutes to complete this task. Be prepared to share your criteria.

Group Task 2:

Establishing Evaluation Criteria

The spokesperson for each group will share one set of the group’s criteria.

Criteria Sharing

What effect did the completion of this activity have on your attitude toward asking students to participate in long-term, high-stakes group activities? Would it be productive to engage students in similar activities? Why or why not?

Individual Reflection #2

Group Task 3:

A Small Group Assignment

Rationale We have tentatively scheduled

for Friday, Nov. 11, a “Showcase” of the work completed in this workshop. The work you complete now will be used as one piece of that Showcase. In other words, the audience for your poster is your colleagues in CAST; your purpose is to provide them with an overview of cooperative & collaborative learning.

AssignmentCreate a Poster Defining/Describing Either Cooperative or Collaborative Learning (or both).

Process

1. Read the chapters/articles provided, and use what you learn to …

2. Create a poster that provides your colleagues in CAST with an overview of either cooperative or collaborative learning (or both).

How has your experience today contributed to your perception and/or understanding or what it means to “foster student collaboration” and/or “encourage student involvement” in learning? (These are IDEA outcomes.)

Are you starting to have some ideas about how you might incorporate cooperative and/or collaborative learning into your teaching?

Individual Reflection #3

BEFORE NEXT WEEK:

Please BEGIN completing the “Small Group Assignment Design Template” you have been

given. Don’t worry if you aren’t prepared to answer all the questions. Answer the ones

you can, and come back next Friday with at least a vague idea about a small group

experience you could integrate into a course you’re teaching in the spring.

Individual Assignment

Please complete an evaluation form before you leave.

The intended outcomes for today’s workshop were that, by the end of the session you would have participated in a variety of group undertakings suitable for use in your own

classrooms been introduced to some of the theory and research related to cooperative and

collaborative learning begun designing a cooperative or collaborative project suitable for use in courses

you’ll be teaching in the spring

If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to email or call. I’ll be happy to talk to you: cclamon@ilstu.edu; 438-7695

Thanks for Coming!