Lesson 2: Cooperative Learning Strategies
Lesson 2 Objectives
At the end of Lesson 2, participants will be able to identify and discuss cooperative learning techniques to be used to create a safe learning environment.
Mini-Lecture
Before we begin, let's brainstorm! Take a moment to jot down a few thoughts that come to mind when you think of competitive learning vs. cooperative learning. Pick one or two of your ideas to add to our bulletin board. Click here to access the bulletin board! 
After sharing your ideas with your peers complete the following:
1. Watch Competition or Cooperation? Psychology: Relationships, Happiness, USA Public School System?. 
2. Read Competitive Classrooms vs. Cooperative Classrooms: Pros and Cons
3. Read Cooperative Learning Strategies
When you are finished, move on to Discussion #1 
Discussion #1
Take a moment to reflect on your ideas you shared in our bulletin board. Do your ideas match or differ from the material presented in the Mini-Lecture?
Use supporting details from the mini-lecture to answer the following questions:
- 1. Which type of learning environment do you think is best for learners? Competitive or cooperative? Explain.
- 2. Refer to the cons mentioned for cooperative classrooms in Competitive Classrooms vs. Cooperative Classrooms: Pros and Cons: How would you address the cons in your math classroom?
Submit your answers by replying to the post on the course blog. Click here to access the blog.
When you are finished, move on to the Activity
Activity
Let's start practice designing an activity for using cooperative learning techniques. Select one strategy from Cooperative Learning Strategies and describe how you would use it in a math lesson.
Submit your idea by replying to the post on the course blog. Click here to access the blog.
When you are finished, move on to Discussion #2
Discussion #2
In the process of transforming lessons to include cooperative learning strategies it is natural to run into obstacles. To prepare you for these obstacles, take a look at The Most Common Mistakes Teachers Make With Cooperative Learning -- And What To Do About Them.
Check out BOTH page 1 and 2 below.
It is also very important to realize that cooperative learning does not mean the teacher can kick off their shoes and relax! Teacher's have important roles in cooperative classrooms. I have included The Teacher's Role in Cooperative Learning to be used as a helpful guide.
Check out BOTH page 1 and 2.
Remember the gummy bears in Module 1?
Do you think the teacher did a good job in her role? If you need a refresher check out the video here.
- Based on The Most Common Mistakes Teachers Make With Cooperative Learning -- And What To Do About Them and The Teacher's Role in Cooperative Learning, how would you assess how the teacher did in the cooperative learning activity? How could the teacher do a better job?
Submit your answers by replying to the post on the course blog. Click here to access the blog.
When you are finished, return to the main page of Module 2
Return to Module 2 Main Page
Module 2: Competitive vs Cooperative Learning: Diminishing Prejudice
References
http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/cooperative-learning-strategies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj-u-LKotps
The Most Common Mistakes Teachers Make With Cooperative Learning -- And What To Do About Them.
The Teacher's Role in Cooperative Learning