Our featured videos look deeply at the culture, routines, protocols, and instructional techniques required to teach in a collaborative learning model.
Collaborative learning is a structure of learning where students work together to accomplish tasks. Effective collaborative learning practices rely on positive interdependence, promotive interaction and individual accountability (Johnson & Johnson, 1998) and result in higher levels of student engagement and student achievement. Collaborative learning may occur in partners, and/or small or large groups. In order to bring collaborative learning structures into your practice, it is necessary to explicitly teach and reinforce the behaviors necessary for effective partner and team collaboration. Click here to learn about collaborative learning.
Elementary
Secondary
Objective: By the end of the video, viewers will have an understanding of how to use a variety of collaborative learning structures during instruction.
Essential Question: How can collaborative learning improve student understanding and achievement? How can I bring collaborative learning practices into my instruction?
Questions to consider as you watch the video:
- How does Ms. Bhatia initially introduce the behaviors necessary for effective collaborative learning?
- How do Mr. Hammond & Ms. Bhatia reinforce effective cooperative learning behaviors throughout the lesson?
- How does Mr. Hammond use data to set up his collaborative groups and determine roles?
- How do the collaborative learning structures support student language acquisition and increase engagement?
- How can I bring these effective collaborative structures into my teaching practice?
Tools & Templates for Collaborative Learning:
- Professional Learning Implementation Tool- Collaborative Learning
- Cooperative Learning Standards (Slavin & Madden)
- Beginning of the SY Activities Ms. Bhatia’s activities for building team interdependence
- Team Score Sheet
- Looks Like Sounds Like Chart Template
Texts on Collaborative Learning :
- Collaborative Learning: Consolidating Thinking with Peers chapter in Better Learning Through Structured Teaching (Fisher & Frey, 2008) Available from the Virtual PL Library
- Cooperative Learning chapter in Classroom Instruction that Works for English Language Learners (Hill & Flynn, 2006) Available from the Virtual PL Library
- Cooperative Group Instruction chapter in Raising Black Studuents’ Achievement Through Culturally Responsive Teaching (McKinley, 2010) Available from the Virtual PL Library
- Synthesis of Research on Cooperative Learning (Slavin, 1991) ASCD
Related Videos:
- Classrooms in Focus: Vocabulary Instruction
- Coach’s Cut- Team Cooperation Goals
- Coach’s Cut- Looks Like/Sounds Like Chart
- Coach’s Cut- Random Reporter
- Collaborative Learning Videos from the Teaching Channel
Have an idea or routine in your classroom for using Collaborative Learning you believe other teachers would benefit from learning about or seeing? Email PL, write “Collaborative Learning” in the subject line.
Tools & Templates Used in the Lessons
Mr. Hammond’s Unit Plan: Unit 6: Cultural Diffusion & Economic Interdependence
Templates:
Ms. Bhatia’s Lesson Plan: Probability
Templates: