Cooperative Learning
Positive Interdependence
Each group will have the mutual goal of earning the most votes for their argument following the debate. Labor and roles will be determined by the students but no student should be doing significantly more or less work than the other members of the group. The roles will include marketers, data analysts, writers, debaters and rebuttal experts. All of the roles should be working together to ensure their side makes the most compelling argument. Assessment will be based on individual performance as well as overall cohesion and completion of the assignments.
Individual & Group Accountability
Students will be in charge of giving each other grades but I will oversee the work of each group to ensure the students do not unfairly reward someone who did little work or knock someone who did substantial work. I will also let students select their own roles but I will push certain students in the direction of taking up a role most suited to their learning profile. Again assessment will be based on a combination of each member’s work and the learning of the group as a whole.
Group Processing
We will assess the learning of the students by roaming through the class and helping groups one at a time. Students will also summarize their learning for each day and explain where the group excelled or lacked effort. Each day students will also address their goals for the project and set goals for the next day.
Social Skills
Several small assignments done by pairs and small groups earlier in the year will be employed as trust building activities. These assignments will also build the social skills of communication, decision-making, conflict resolution and leadership skills. The group assignments will begin small and build into more immersive projects and through time and reflection on each assignment along the way, social skills will be form to the point where students are well prepared at the time of the ITU.
Face-to-Face Interaction
Students will be placed in heterogeneous groups to discuss and work through the assignment. Each group will have a distinct part of the room to work in and there will be a small area in the back of the room where students with confusion can come for help or direction.
Each group will have the mutual goal of earning the most votes for their argument following the debate. Labor and roles will be determined by the students but no student should be doing significantly more or less work than the other members of the group. The roles will include marketers, data analysts, writers, debaters and rebuttal experts. All of the roles should be working together to ensure their side makes the most compelling argument. Assessment will be based on individual performance as well as overall cohesion and completion of the assignments.
Individual & Group Accountability
Students will be in charge of giving each other grades but I will oversee the work of each group to ensure the students do not unfairly reward someone who did little work or knock someone who did substantial work. I will also let students select their own roles but I will push certain students in the direction of taking up a role most suited to their learning profile. Again assessment will be based on a combination of each member’s work and the learning of the group as a whole.
Group Processing
We will assess the learning of the students by roaming through the class and helping groups one at a time. Students will also summarize their learning for each day and explain where the group excelled or lacked effort. Each day students will also address their goals for the project and set goals for the next day.
Social Skills
Several small assignments done by pairs and small groups earlier in the year will be employed as trust building activities. These assignments will also build the social skills of communication, decision-making, conflict resolution and leadership skills. The group assignments will begin small and build into more immersive projects and through time and reflection on each assignment along the way, social skills will be form to the point where students are well prepared at the time of the ITU.
Face-to-Face Interaction
Students will be placed in heterogeneous groups to discuss and work through the assignment. Each group will have a distinct part of the room to work in and there will be a small area in the back of the room where students with confusion can come for help or direction.