Collaborative learning groups

CREATING LEARNING GROUPS

FOR COLLABORATIVE

STUDY

Presented by Samantha Cash

OTC Online’s Annual Innovation Showcase Nov. 7, 2011

Overview – Group Work

Student PerspectivePointlessFocused on the productProduces anxiety

Instructor PerspectivePointlessFocused on the processProduces disappointment

The Idea!

Make group work meaningfulStudents make group study aids

○ Not just “effort points”○ Both the product and process are

meaningfulStudents receive individual and group

scores○ Less complaints from students

Practice Test: Answer#. Full directions Problem (Lots of Space)  #. Full directions Problem (Lots of Space)  Etc. 

#. Full directions Problem Complete Solution  Answer #. Full directions Problem Complete Solution  Answer Etc.

Example:

 Substitution Method

1. Isolate ‘y’2. Plug into other equation and solve

for ‘x’3. Plug ‘x’ into first equation and solve4. Write the answer as {(x, y)}

Practice Test

Flashcards

Chapter Summaries

What went wrong

Everyone chose practice tests!

Pros:Easy to split up contributions

Cons:Not all group members contributeLittle to no discussionImbalance of workloadProcrastination

Anxiety

Let’s Re-Think

How can we make sure…All members contributeGroup generates discussionBalance of workloadGroups stay on track

Collaborative Learning Group

Mental Cheat Sheet

Collaborative Learning Group

Textbook Summaries

Group Discussion Board

Group File Exchange

Mental Cheat Sheet

Each week, students read the textbook and individually write their own summaries on the material.

Math department policy beginning FA11The process starts outside of the groupsEnsures students are reading the textbook

before discussing the contentStudent <-> Instructor interaction

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Textbook Summaries

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Textbook Summaries

They are then required to post in their group what information from each of those sections they believe should be on their mental cheat sheet.

Graded weekly (Missing more than one week gives you an overall ‘0’ grade)

“All” members contributeKeeps the group on trackStudent <-> Student interaction

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Group Discussion Board

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Group Discussion Board

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Group Discussion Board

Students use a file exchange to update versions of their mental cheat sheet

Only “leaders” of the group compile the information

Don’t have to worry about whether or not others have participated

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Group File Exchange

Mental Cheat Sheet

One student posts the final product in the file exchange so their group members can benefit

Posting in the group instead of sending to the instructor ensures that everyone has access to it

Becomes a study aid for the exam

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Mental Cheat SheetBack to main

Benefits

Talk about math concepts (still needs work)

Share their struggles and their triumphs Make connections and create support

networks Study in smaller chunks before the

exam

Questions?

Samantha Cash TLC (ICE 212E) cashs@otc.edu 447-8953