Collaboration Leads to LearningCreating a Collaborative Classroom

October 19, 2017

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• Teacher-in-training?• Teacher?• Instructional coach? • School administrator • District administrator? • Other?

Who Are You?Who is here?

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1. Collaboration research

2. Purposeful collaboration

3. Effective collaboration

4. Collaboration & formative assessment

5. Collaboration call-to-action

6. #EdWeek @CollegeBoard @DougSBoard#SpringBoard #SBCollaboration

Webinar Goals• Why collaborate?• What does

collaboration in the classroom look like?

• How do I begin?

Why Collaborate?What does the research say?

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Students who work in collaborative groupstend to be more satisfied with their classes,complete more assignments, and generallylike school better.

Totten, Sills, Digby, & Russ, 1991

In any content area, students learn more andretain information longer when they work inproductive groups …

Armed with a clear learning objective andexamples of the kind of thinking and actionsthey should engage in, students will be readyto work—but not to work independently yet …Collaborative learning transfers moreresponsibility to students, yet provides themwith peer support.

“”Summers, 2006Fisher & Frey, 2009

We are the College Board, and we begin with the research. Fisher & Frey basically state that teachers need to set clear learning goals, model behavior and examples of what the work looks like, and then give them time to work with their peers before asking them to do something independent. Essentially the gradual release model, which states the importance of letting students practice with each other before throwing them out there to figure it out on their own.

What does the research say about collaboration?

Why Collaborate?

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Teacher talk alone can’t elevate student language. Students must use and apply academic language.

Collaborative learning … is two or more students laboring together and sharing the workload equitably as they progress toward intended learning outcomes.

Collaborative learning builds self-esteem in students, enhances student satisfaction with the learning experience, and promotes a positive attitude toward the subject matter.

Collaborative efforts among students result in a higher degree of accomplishment by all participants as opposed to individual, competitive systems in which students are left behind.

By their very nature people find satisfaction with activities which value their abilities and include them in the process. Effective teams or groups assume ownership of a process and its results when individuals are encouraged to work together toward a common goal, often defined by the group.

Collaborative learning fosters a higher level of performance by students. Their critical thinking skills increase and their retention of information and interest in the subject matter improves.

Given their understanding of academic language development, they recognize that a close reading lesson dominated by teacher talk or one that moves students too quickly to independent learning will leave a significant number of students behind. “The way to get these complex texts is through lots of interaction,”one principal said.

Productive group work further increasesstudent responsibility within a small group format. In the company of peers, students clarify their understanding, resolve problems, reach consensus, or identify solutions …

What does the research say about collaboration?

Why Collaborate?

“”Fisher, Frey, and Nelson, 2013Barkely, Cross, & Major, 2005, p. 5Teaching Effectiveness Program, 2014

Purposeful CollaborationWhy is collaboration important?

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GROUP ROLES

1 2 3 4Questioner/Runner Reporter Leader/

Time Keeper Recorder

• Ask for group clarification.

• Seek help on group questions.

• Gather and return materials.

• Present the group’s work/findings.

• Make connection to other group presentations.

• Clarify the task and responses.

• Keep the group focused and on time.

• Remind members of group norms.

• Ensure each member contributes.

• Write the group’s solutions/ideas.

• Check ideas for clarity.

• Use multiple representations to illustrate group thoughts.

Collaborative Strategies

Critique Reasoning

Debriefing

Discussion Groups

Group Presentation

Think-Pair-Share

Jigsaw

Sharing and Responding

Collaboration requires purposeful planning.

Teachers know their content.Teachers know their students.

• Align collaboration to the instructional goals and learning targets of the lesson

• Choose appropriate learning strategies that are comfortable for students and lend themselves to collaboration

• Establish group norms and roles

• Support facilitation of learning through guiding questions and structured time

Purposeful Collaboration

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Collaboration requires purposeful planning.

Teachers know their content.Teachers know their students.

• Align collaboration to the instructional goals and learning targets of the lesson

• Choose appropriate learning strategies that are comfortable for students and lend themselves to collaboration

• Establish group norms and roles

• Support facilitation of learning through guiding questions and structured time

Purposeful Collaboration

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Collaborative Strategies

Critique Reasoning

Debriefing

Discussion Groups

Group Presentation

Think-Pair-Share

Jigsaw

Sharing and Responding

Collaboration requires purposeful planning.

Teachers know their content.Teachers know their students.

• Align collaboration to the instructional goals and learning targets of the lesson

• Choose appropriate learning strategies that are comfortable for students and lend themselves to collaboration

• Establish group norms and roles

• Support facilitation of learning through guiding questions and structured time

Purposeful Collaboration

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GROUP ROLES

1 2 3 4Questioner/Runner Reporter Leader/

Time Keeper Recorder

• Ask for group clarification.

• Seek help on group questions.

• Gather and return materials.

• Present the group’s work/findings.

• Make connection to other group presentations.

• Clarify the task and responses.

• Keep the group focused and on time.

• Remind members of group norms.

• Ensure each member contributes.

• Write the group’s solutions/ideas.

• Check ideas for clarity.

• Use multiple representations to illustrate group thoughts.

Collaboration requires purposeful planning.

Teachers know their content.Teachers know their students.

• Align collaboration to the instructional goals and learning targets of the lesson

• Choose appropriate learning strategies that are comfortable for students and lend themselves to collaboration

• Establish group norms and roles

• Support facilitation of learning through guiding questions and structured time

Purposeful Collaboration

Effective CollaborationWhat does this look like?

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Effective Collaboration:ELAWhat is the teacher doing?• Provide clear directions

• Explain clear expectations (deliverables)

• Listen–Guide–Monitor

What are students doing?• Taking an active role

• Engaging in the lesson, focusing on evidence and argumentation

• Demonstrating clear progress towards established goals

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Effective Collaboration:MathWhat is the teacher doing?• Provide clear directions

• Explain clear expectations (deliverables)

• Listen–Guide–Monitor

What are students doing?• Taking an active role

• Engaging in the lesson, focusing on evidence and argumentation

• Demonstrating clear progress towards established goals

Collaboration & Formative AssessmentHow does collaboration inform teaching and learning?

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• Assessing students’ group work and results can inform their learning of the instructional content

• Monitoring students’ responses can inform their progress toward proficiency in speaking and listening, as well as content standards

• Getting to know your students better can inform future groupings

Collaboration & Formative AssessmentHow do you use collaboration as formative assessment?

Collaboration in Your ClassroomHow will you implement collaboration in your classroom?

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Collaboration Call-to-Action• What will collaboration look

like in your classroom?• How will you implement

collaboration in your classroom?

Q&AWhat questions do you have?

ThankYou.Learn more at springboard.collegeboard.org