Using Cooperative Learning in the Secondary Mathematics Classroom

1. Cooperative Learning Using Cooperative Learning in the Secondary Mathematics Classroom Ian Cassells, QIO Secondary Maths, North Lanarkshire Monica Kirson,Numeracy Development Officer The Mathematical Association Conference Saturday 19th September 2009

2. Cooperative Learning Agenda Activities Used & Maths Content . . . Simultaneous Round Table - Solving Simultaneous Equations Expert Jigsaw - Solving Past Paper Questions Stand & Deliver - Learn Coop Learning Processes Paired Reading - Preparation For Homework

3. Cooperative Learning 5 Basic Elements - cooperative learning structure Positive Interdependence = you cannot complete task alone Individual Accountability = you cannot opt out of the task Face to Face Interaction = discuss/work close together Social Skills = the behaviour expectations Group Processing = assessing your contribution & understanding

4. Cooperative Learning Positive Interdependence • Goal • Reward • Resource • Role • Sequence • Simulation • Outside Force • Environment • Identity ✔ ✔ "None of us is as smart as all of us." ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

5. Cooperative Learning Round Robin Share(Team-Building Activity) Social Skill : Listening Attentively to Your Team Starting with the tallest member and then proceeding clockwise, share : • Your Name • Your School and Role • Your Favourite Topic in Maths which you love teaching

6. Cooperative Learning Activity 1 “Think Pair Share” & “Simultaneous Round Table” Academic Task : I Can Solve Simultaneous Equations Using “Think Pair Share” & “Simultaneous Round Table” Social Skills : To Use Your Best Handwriting To Check For Understanding

7. Cooperative Learning Activity 1 “Think-Pair-Share” • Working with your “Shoulder Partner”, write down the first equation • Check with your “Face Partner” • Working with your “Shoulder Partner”, write down the second equation • Check with your “Face Partner” • As a team, decide what order to write down your two equations

8. Cooperative Learning Activity 1 “Simultaneous Round Table” • As a team, decide which unknown letter to eliminate first; multiply up each equation; CHECK; ROTATE JOTTERS • Solve for first unknown; CHECK; ROTATE JOTTERS • Solve for second unknown; CHECK; ROTATE JOTTERS • Answer Question; CHECK; ROTATE JOTTERS • Repeat whole process for subsequent questions

9. Cooperative Learning Activity 1 - Processing Academic Task • Academic Task: I Can Solve Simultaneous Equations using • “Think-Pair-Share” & “Simultaneous Round Table” • Resources:“Show-me Board” or Card for each group • Everyone must agree on their team rule for solving Simultaneous Equations. • Person 1 = Resource Manager • Person 2 = Writer • Person 3 = Timer • Person 4 = Encourager • Time for task = 2 minutes

10. Cooperative Learning Activity 1 - Processing Social Skills To Use Your Best Handwriting & To Check for Understanding • How well did YOU participate in this activity : • Did you Use Your Best Handwriting ? • Did you Check for Understanding ? • Rate yourself using a “Fist to 5” • Teams could display their scores on a show-me board • Could also keep team-journals with scores & personal reflections noted for evidence of learning.

11. Cooperative Learning Activity 2 : “Expert Jigsaw” Academic Task : I Can Solve Past Paper Questions using “Expert Jigsaw” Social Skills : To Agree On The Best Solution & To Explain Your Solution Clearly

12. Cooperative Learning Activity 2 : “Expert Jigsaw” • All Number 1s work together in teams of 2, 3 or 4 and write out the best solution - paying attention to the marks allocated to their question (all number 2s, 3s and 4s do the same in their expert groups) • Everyone now takes time to check for understanding • Everyone returns to their “Home Team” and take turns to teach their team members how to do their question. • Everyone should now have the best solutions to all 4 Past Paper questions.

13. Cooperative Learning Activity 2 - Processing Academic Task I Can Solve Past Paper Questions using “Expert Jigsaw” (Using “traffic lights” to assess academic tasks) Think to yourself RED . . . . . . Why RED / What do I need to do to understand better? AMBER . . . Why AMBER / What do I need to do to improve? GREEN . . . Why GREEN / What do I need to do to keep this up?

14. Cooperative Learning Activity 2 - Processing Social Skills To Agree on The Best Solution & To Explain Your Solution Clearly • Think to yourself : • How well did you participate in each team activity : • Did you Agree on the Best Solution in a Friendly Way • Did you Explain Your Solution Clearly • Did you give help and support when needed • Think and then share with your team : • ~ If you did perform well, what was it that made that so • ~ What could you do in subsequent tasks to perform even better • ~ Start with Person 2 (could record all comments in team journal)

15. Cooperative Learning Activity 3 - “Stand and Deliver” Academic Task : I Can Learn the Processes for : “Think-Pair-Share” “Simultaneous Round Table” “Expert Jigsaw” “Stand & Deliver” Social Skills : To Take Turns & To Support Each Other

16. Cooperative Learning Activity 3 - “Stand and Deliver” (Explanation) • Team members all stand and take turns to learn the task/formulae • When all team members are confident with the task/formulae, then all members can sit back down. • Sitting down indicates to the teacher that all members have learned the task/formulae. • The teacher can now call upon any member of any team to share what they have learned with the whole class.

17. Cooperative Learning Activity 3 - “Stand and Deliver” • Team members all stand and take turns to learn the processes involved in the lessons used today • Think-Pair-Share • Simultaneous Round Table • Expert Jigsaw • Stand & Deliver • When all team members are confident with the task/formulae, then all members can sit back down Remember sitting down indicates to the teacher that everyone in your team has learned all the processes

18. Cooperative Learning Activity 3 - Processing Academic Task I Can Learn the Processes for : “Think-Pair-Share”, “Simultaneous Round Table”, “Expert Jigsaw” and “Stand & Deliver” Using Numbered Heads Together, the teacher can quickly check for understanding at each group.

19. Cooperative Learning Activity 4:“Paired Reading” Academic Task : Get Ready To Complete Your Homework Successfully Social Skills : To Use Quiet Voices To Take Turns

20. Cooperative Learning Activity 4:“Paired Reading” Sequence: Person 1 & 2 prepare together Person 3 & 4 prepare together • Everyone (silently) reads Question 1 • Person 1 and 3 explain solution to their partners • Everyone (silently) reads Question 2 • Person 2 and 4 explain solution to their partners • 5. Continue reading & taking turns to explain until all questions have been addressed

21. Cooperative Learning Activity 4 - Processing Academic Task I Can Prepare Myself so that I can Complete My Homework Successfully • Marking these completed homework tasks will help to assess individual performance on the academic content. Activity 4 - Processing Social Skills To Use Quiet Voices & To Take Turns • How well did you participate in this activity : • Did you use Quiet Voices ? • Did you Take Turns ? • Rate yourself using the “Roman Rating”

22. Cooperative Learning Conclusion - “Think-Pair-Share” Think: One thing that you will take away from this presentation today Pair: Share your thoughts with your shoulder partner The person with the longest hair shares first Share: Tell your face partner what you heard Time Limit: 2 minutes

23. Cooperative Learning Thank You Thank you for your time and attention Please thank your team members for supporting your learning today

24. Cooperative Learning Contact details: Monica Kirson Numeracy Development Officer kirsonm@ourladys.n-lanark.sch.uk MKirson@LTScotland.gov.uk Ian Cassells QIO, Secondary Maths, NL cassellsi@northlan.gov.uk

25. Cooperative Learning More Ideas on how to use these Cooperative Learning Activities in the Maths Class.

26. Cooperative Learning Agenda Activities Used & Maths Content . . . Simultaneous Round Table - Solving Simultaneous Equations Expert Jigsaw - Solving Past Paper Questions Stand & Deliver - Learn Coop Learning Processes Paired Reading - Preparation For Homework

27. Cooperative Learning Activity 5 “Think Pair Share” Academic Task : I Can Practice Mental & Non- Calculator Questions Social Skills : To Work in Silence To Reach Consensus

28. Cooperative Learning Activity 5 “Think Pair Share” Everyone Works In “Pairs or Trios” : • Person 1 writes down their answer to the question • Person 2 writes down their answer if different • In silence pupils agree on the correct answer • On the teacher’s signal all teams show their answer • To encourage correct responses could give 2nd chance • Now person 2 is first to write their answer (& so on)

29. Cooperative Learning Activity 5 “Think Pair Share” How many faces would be needed to construct 5 dodecahedrons ? Clue : this 3-D shape could be used to display a calendar! Answer = 12 x 5 = 60 faces

30. Cooperative Learning Activity 5 “Think Pair Share” Explain why the perimeter of this triangular enclosure, is not 5 Kilometres. Clue : Think of Pythagorean Triples! Perimeter = 6 + 5 + 5 = 16 Km

31. Cooperative Learning Activity 5 “Think Pair Share” What is the gradient of the tangent to the curve, y = x2 + 2x – 4, at x = 3 A. 6 B. 11 C. 8 D. 4 Clue : gradient = m = dy/dx Answer = 2 x 3 + 2 = 8, C.

32. Cooperative Learning Activity 5 - Processing Academic Task I Can Practice Mental and Non-Calculator Questions Using “Think-Pair-Share” • Teams display their score on their show-me board • Using the show-me boards, teachers can quickly gauge understanding and progression throughout.

33. Cooperative Learning Activity 5 - Processing Social Skills To Work in Silence & To Reach Consensus • How well did YOU participate in this activity : • Did you Work in Silence ? • Did you Reach Consensus Amicably ? • Rate yourself using “Thinking Thumbs” or “Roman Rating”