Teaching NSS English with Cooperative Learning

Methodology

Mrs Maggie Hung

Yan Chai Hospital Lim Por Yen Secondary School

http://www3.ychlpyss.edu.hk/~lpy-lyc/index.html

12th August, 2011

Team Formation

A D

B C

Screen

4-person team of heterogenous abilities

Group 1

A B

D C

Cooperative Learning

Cooperative Learning

Home TeamHome Team

Functions of members

(A) Red (Team Leader):

control quality, arrange tasks

(B) Blue (Recorder):

take record, keep time

(C) Yellow (Cheerleader):

cheer up, assist others

(D) Green (Housekeeper):

keep materials, notice signals

Routine• Use colored scheme worksheets

e.g. student A: Pink student B: Blue student C: Yellow student D: Green

Routine• Give them marks when students:

-complete the task-actively participate in the task-encourage and help group mates

Routine

• Random CheckInvite students to share the answers in front of the class randomly

• Promote fairness

CL Activities Some common CL activities for doing reading,

speaking, listening and writing exercises

1. Round Robin2. Think, Pair, Share3. Poster circulation4. (Simultaneous) Roundtable5. Jigsaw listening6. Jigsaw reading

Think, Pair, Share

• Think individually: What are the benefits of joining the Drama Club?

• Exchange views in pairs

• Everyone takes turn to share his/ her views AND student B writes all the benefits onto broadsheet

Demonstration on Think, Pair, Share

Poster CirculationSs pass the broadsheet (poster) clockwise to another group

Ss can read the other group’s ideas

Ss can learn through reading

T sets criteria of successe.g. 4 suggestions 8 marks

more than 4 10 marks

Common CL Learning Structure

Demonstration on Poster Circulation

Roundtable • T asks Ss to think of regular activities of the ECA • Each student takes turn to write one activity on the

broadsheet• Pass the broadsheet clockwise to the next student

to write one activity on the broadsheet• E.g. A→B →C →D →A…..• Criteria of success: 4 suggestions → 8 marks

less than 4 → 6 marks

Common CL Learning Structure

Demonstration on Roundtable

Let’s work out CL together!

Situation- You are learning some Social Issues with your group

mates through Cooperative Learning’s learning structures:

Task 1: Brainstorming Ideas (Simultaneous Roundtable)

Task 2: Gathering Information (Jigsaw Reading)

Task 3: Understanding the topic (Pair Check)

Task 4: Forming your own ideas (Poster Circulation)

Task 5: Presentation (2 Stay 2 Stray)

Situation

We are now learning the following 4 topics of social issues:

1. Food Safety 2. Animal Abuse 3. Smoking Ban 4. Online Fraud

Task 1 Brainstorming Ideas

Learning Structure: (Simultaneous) Roundtable

Criteria of Success: All 16 boxes are filled 10 marks

15 or less than 15 boxes are filled 8 marks

Expected Behavior: Take turns orderly, Praise others

Steps: 1. Everybody starts with a (different) question paper and write answer in the correct box for one minute (or shorter time)

2. Then four question papers are circulated simultaneously

Learning Structure: Jigsaw ReadingCriteria of Success: Every member reports the summary from his/

her reading worksheet 10 marks (if not, 8 marks)

All 4 members jot down all others’ reports on one’s own worksheet another 10 marks (if not, 8 marks)

Expected Behavior: Take turns orderly, Ask for repetition when necessary, Jot down notes on one’s own worksheet

Steps: 1. Read individually and then write summary of the part of the news article (2 mins)

2. Starting from A, everybody takes turn to report the summary (1 min. each)

Task 2 Gathering Information

Task 3 Understanding the Topic

Learning Structure: Pair Check

Criteria of Success: All questions are answered 5 marks

Expected Behavior: Explain answers to partner and group mates

Steps: 1. Form pairs (A&B, C&D). Each pair does the same set of questions. First, individually finish the work (3 mins)

2. Check and discuss the answers with partner (1 min)

3. A&B takes turn to present answers to C&D (1 min). Then C&D takes turn to present answers to A&B (1 min).

Learning Structure: Poster Circulation

Criteria of Success: Complete the task 10 marks, and 1 mark for each “” received from other groups

Expected Behavior: Share, Praise others

Steps: 1. Everybody finishes the work individually (5 mins)

A: Introduction B: Body (I)

C: Body (II) D: Conclusion

2. Combine the work with your group mates

3. Put the 4 worksheets into a poster and circulate the poster clockwise until the poster comes back

4. Each team gives a on the poster it is interesting (no more than 3 s)

Task 4 Forming your own ideas

Task 5 Presentation

Learning Structure: 2 stay 2 stray

Criteria of Success:

Fluent presentation with eye contact 8 marks

Very fluent presentation with very good eye contact 10 marks

Expected Behavior: Do greetings, Praise others

Steps: 1. 2 stay as markers and 2 stray as presenters to other groups (one at a time)

2. The 2 who stray take the marksheet with them for the other groups’ examiners to write down marks

Cooperative Learning

• Positive Interdependence

• Individual accountability

• Equal opportunity

• Social face-to-face interaction

Thank you