Cooperative Learning

Cooperative learning 

                - is an approach to organizing classroom activities into academic and social learning experiences. It differs from group work, and it has been described as "structuring positive interdependence." Students must work in groups to complete tasks collectively toward academic goals. Unlike individual learning, which can be competitive in nature, students learning cooperatively capitalize on one another’s resources and skills (asking one another for information, evaluating one another’s ideas, monitoring one another’s work, etc.).Furthermore, the teacher's role changes from giving information to facilitating students' learning. Everyone succeeds when the group succeeds. Ross and Smyth (1995) describe successful cooperative learning tasks as intellectually demanding, creative, open-ended, and involve higher order thinking tasks. Five essential elements are identified for the successful incorporation of cooperative learning in the classroom.

Types:

Formal cooperative learning 

              - is structured, facilitated, and monitored by the educator over time and is used to achieve group goals in task work (e.g. completing a unit). Any course material or assignment can be adapted to this type of learning, and groups can vary from 2-6 people with discussions lasting from a few minutes up to a period. Types of formal cooperative learning strategies include jigsaw, assignments that involve group problem solving and decision making, laboratory or experiment assignments, and peer review work (e.g. editing writing assignments). Having experience and developing skill with this type of learning often facilitates informal and base learning.^[13] Jigsaw activities are wonderful because the student assumes the role of the teacher on a given topic and is in charge of teaching the topic to a fellow classmate. The idea is that if the student can teach something, he/she would have already learned the material.

Informal cooperative learning 

             - incorporates group learning with passive teaching by drawing attention to material through small groups throughout the lesson or by discussion at the end of a lesson, and typically involves groups of two (e.g. turn-to-your-partner discussions). These groups are often temporary and can change from lesson to lesson (very much unlike formal learning where 2 students may be lab partners throughout the entire semester contributing to one another’s knowledge of science). Discussions typically have four components that include formulating a response to questions asked by the educator, sharing responses to the questions asked with a partner, listening to a partner’s responses to the same question, and creating a new well-developed answer. This type of learning enables the student to process, consolidate, and retain more information learned.^[13]

In group-based cooperative learning

             - these peer groups gather together over the long term (e.g. over the course of a year, or several years such as in high school or post-secondary studies) to develop and contribute to one another’s knowledge mastery on a topic by regularly discussing material, encouraging one another, and supporting the academic and personal success of group members. Base group learning is effective for learning complex subject matter over the course or semester and establishes caring, supportive peer relationships, which in turn motivates and strengthens the student’s commitment to the group’s education while increasing self-esteem and self-worth. Base group approaches also make the students accountable to educating their peer group in the event that a member was absent for a lesson. This is effective both for individual learning, as well as social support.

Cooperative Learning Techniques:

               Schul (2011) discusses cooperative learning techniques. There are a great number of cooperative learning techniques available. Some cooperative learning techniques utilize student pairing, while others utilize small groups of four or five students. Hundreds of techniques have been created into structures to use in any content area published by Dr. Spencer Kagan (1994). Among the easy to implement structures are Think-Pair-Share, Think-Pair-Write, and variations of Round Robin. A well known cooperative learning technique is the Jigsaw, Jigsaw II and Reverse Jigsaw. Anne Brown has made many contributions to cooperative learning with the Reciprocal Teaching technique.

• Think Pair Share

Originally developed by Frank T. Lyman (1981), Think-Pair-Share allows for students to contemplate a posed question or problem silently. The student may write down thoughts or simply just brainstorm in his or her head. When prompted, the student pairs up with a peer and discusses his or her idea(s) and then listens to the ideas of his or her partner. Following pair dialogue, the teacher solicits responses from the whole group.^[19]

• Jigsaw

Students are members of two groups: home group and expert group. In the heterogenous home group, students are each assigned a different topic. Once a topic has been identified, students leave the home group and group with the other students with their assigned topic. In the new group, students learn the material together before returning to their home group. Once back in their home group, each student is accountable for teaching his or her assigned topic.

• Jigsaw II

Jigsaw II is Robert Slavin's (1980) variation of Jigsaw in which members of the home group are assigned the same material, but focus on separate portions of the material. Each member must become an "expert" on his or her assigned portion and teach the other members of the home group.

• Reverse Jigsaw

This variation was created by Timothy Hedeen (2003), It differs from the original Jigsaw during the teaching portion of the activity. In the Reverse Jigsaw technique, students in the expert groups teach the whole class rather than return to their home groups to teach the content.

• Reciprocal Teaching

Brown & Paliscar (1982) developed reciprocal teaching. It is a cooperative technique that allows for student pairs to participate in a dialogue about text. Partners take turns reading and asking questions of each other, receiving immediate feedback. Such a model allows for students to use important metacognitive techniques such as clarifying, questioning, predicting, and summarizing.It embraces the idea that students can effectively learn from each other.

• The Williams

Students collaborate to answer a big question that is the learning objective. Each group has differentiated questions that increases in cognitive ability to allow students to progress and meet the learning objective.

• STAD (or Student-Teams-Achievement Divisions)

Students are placed in small groups (or teams). The class in its entirety is presented with a lesson and the students are subsequently tested. Individuals are graded on the team's performance. Although the tests are taken individually, students are encouraged to work together to improve the overall performance of the group.

Research supporting cooperative learning

             Research on cooperative learning demonstrated “overwhelmingly positive” results and confirmed that cooperative modes are cross-curricular. Cooperative learning requires students to engage in group activities that increase learning and adds other important dimensions.^[ The positive outcomes include: academic gains, improved race relations and increased personal and social development. Brady & Tsay (2010) report that students who fully participated in group activities, exhibited collaborative behaviours, provided constructive feedback and cooperated with their group had a higher likelihood of receiving higher test scores and course grades at the end of the semester. Results from Brady & Tsay’s (2010) study support the notion that cooperative learning is an active pedagogy that fosters higher academic achievement (p. 85). Cooperative learning has been found to also increase attendance, time on task, enjoyment of school and classes, motivation, and independence.

Slavin states the following regarding research on cooperative is learning which corresponds with Brady & Tsay’s (2010) findings.

• Students demonstrate academic achievement
• Cooperative learning methods are usually equally effective for all ability levels.
• Cooperative learning is effective for all ethnic groups
• Student perceptions of one another are enhanced when given the opportunity to work with one another
• Cooperative learning increases self-esteem and self-concept
• Ethnic and physically/mentally handicapped barriers are broken down allowing for positive interactions and friendships to occur

Johnson and Johnson (1989) concluded cooperative learning results in:

• Increased higher level reasoning
• Increased generation of new ideas and solutions
• Greater transfer of learning between situations

According to Reijo Siltala cooperative learning is significant in business field.

• Cooperative learning can be seen as characteristic for innovation businesses.
• The five stage division on cooperative learning creates a useful method of analysing learning in innovation businesses.
• Innovativity connected to cooperative learning seems to make the creation of innovations possible.

Limitation

Cooperative Learning has many limitations that could cause the process to be more complicated than first perceived. Sharan (2010) describes the constant evolution of cooperative learning as a threat. Due to the fact that cooperative learning is constantly changing, there is a possibility that teachers may become confused and lack complete understanding of the method. Teachers implementing cooperative learning may also be challenged with resistance and hostility from students who believe that they are being held back by their slower teammates or by students who are less confident and feel that they are being ignored or demeaned by their team.

Students often provide feedback in the success of the teamwork experienced during cooperative learning experiences. Peer review and evaluations may not reflect true experiences due to perceived competition among peers. A confidential evaluation process may help to increase evaluation strength.

Attitude

1. A scientist must be curious about the world:

Galileo Galilei's curiosity about the heavenly bodies made him the first person to use a telescope to study the moon, the sun, the planets and the stars.

2. A scientist is logical and systematic:

Among the reasons why Gregor Mendel discovered the principles of heredity when others have failed was his logical experimental methods and his careful an

d accurate record keeping.

3. A scientist is open-minded:

An open-minded person is one who can modify plans or discard hypotheses if necessary. One such person was Johannes Kepler who was hired to develop evidence that planets moved along perfect circles.

4. A scientist is intellectually honest:

Isaac Newton built his laws of motion on the previous work of Galileo and others.

5. A scientist works hard and is persistent:

Marie Curie was the first person ever to be awarded the Nobel Prize twice. It was not surprising considering how hard she worked.

6. A scientist does not jump to conclusions:

John Dalton's atomic theory was backed by experimental evidence. He was not the first to propose that the atom was the smallest particle of matter, but he was the first to use experimental evidence to support his theory.

7. A scientist is a creative and critical thinker:

Albert Einstein was able to derive his theory of relativity because he went beyond what was given and known at that time. He saw links and connections where others did not. He looked at things from different perspectives.

8. A scientist is rational.

9. A scientist is willing to suspend judgment until he is sure of his results.

10.A scientist tries new approaches to arrive at solutions.

Teacher Day Celebration

Teacher's Day is celebrated as a tribute to the valuable contribution made by teachers to the society by imparting knowledge and enlightening and shaping the career of students.

For students, Teacher's Day is an occasion to pay reverence and gratitude to teachers for their selfless effort in shaping their career and enriching the education system in the process. 

When is Teacher's Day celebrated? The date for celebrating this special event varies from country to country across the world.

 Most of the schools and institutions make elaborate preparations for the celebrations. The ceremony usually kicks off with a warm Teacher's Day speech paying respect and thanking teachers for their contribution. This is often followed by a range of colorful cultural programs, feast and other activities which make the event special and memorable.

A few traditional ways of celebrating the event include presenting colorful flowers, beautiful Teacher's Day cards or gifts to the teacher as tokens of love and admiration. But students often try innovative ways and ideas to celebrate Teacher's Day. 

Some rely on creative and attractive Teacher's Day greeting cards adorned with captivating and touchy quotes and messages to convey the indebtedness unfailingly and also to capture the wonderful moments of the event. Others select lovely and popular Teacher's Day quotes to convey their inner feeling of love for their teacher.

All of us have been students at some stage of our life and have benefited from our teachers. Celebration of Teacher's Day is a wonderful opportunity especially for all of us to show our gratitude and appreciation to our teachers. Teacher's are the education for children and from their teaching we have our future.

The importance of Teachers in our life cannot be overstated . The primacy of teachers in our lives cannot be told more effectively than this. Teachers would the lives that they influence. Lessons learned from teachers remain with user students throughout life. They-the teachers- break down barriers and reach into our souls Breathes there a student with soul so dead/who never to himself hath said, “Thanks, Oh Teacher, thanks. You made a man out of an ignoramus. Teachers are tired with their workload and responsibilities. They have their own families, financial and life stresses that challenge them along with everyone else. And yet when they come into the class they almost step into a different radiant personality. We should therefore, always respect our teachers. Teachers need encouragement and support from the community to feel that their devotion to students is appreciated. 

TALUMPATI

ANG KALIKASAN NOON AT NGAYON

Madalas itinuturo sa paaralan ang kahalagahan ng likas na yaman natin ngunit ano nga ba ang kalikasan noon at nagayon?

Kung ikukumpara natin ang kalikasan noon at ngayon, mapapansin natin ang ilang pagbabago na nagaganap sa ating kapaligiran.Noon ang kalikasan natin ay sagana sa mga likas na yaman, maraming puno, sari8wang hangi8n, magandang kapaligiran, tanawin at malinis na dagat at ilog.Pero ngayontayo ay namumuhay wsa isang kalikasan na animoy bangungot na kikitil sa sanlibutan at walang buhay na kapaligiran.Pansinin ninyo an gating ilog, dibat napakarumi na nito? Ang mga mapangabusong tao ay ginagawang tapunan ng mga basura an gating ilog! Yan ang kasalukuyang kalikasan na ginagalawan natin ngayon.

Ano ba ang nararapat nating gawin upang kalikasan natiy maibalik sa dati nitong ganda? Pagsunod sa batas na dapat nati8ng sundin ang sinuman upang kalikasan natiy maibalik sa I nitong anyo at ganda!

Pahalagahan natin ang kalikasan, at pahalagahan ang bawat natitirang likas na yaman ng ating bansa! Dahil ang labis na pang aabuso sa ating kalikasan ang siyang magiging sanhi ng pagka wasak at pagka wala ng mga likas na yaman. Iligtas natin an gating kalikasan, ingatan natin ito dahil ito ang magiging susi ng pag asenso n gating bansa.

MGA PANGANGAILANGAN NG KABATAAN

Anu ba pagkakaiba naten noon at ngayon?Malaki na ba ang ipinagbago naten?Kaya pa ba sugpuin ang mga kabataan ngayon.Yan ang mga tanong Mmadalas pumasok sa aking isipa.Kapansin-pansin naman sa mga kabataan ngayonn na halos napapabayaan na nang napakaraming kabataan ang pagaaral na isang sa pinakamahalaga para sa edukasyon ng lahat.Hindi bat napakarami narin ang mga kabataan ang nalululong sa droga,napapabarkada sa mga masasama.

Maari naman natin masugpo ang mga ganitong uri ng kabataan na halos walang oras sa pamilya napapabayaan ang pagaaral,siguro kailangan lan bantayan,alagaan,bigyan ng suporta.Ang mga kabataan ng sa ganun hindi maging malayo ang loob nila sa atin at sa PANGINOON.

KALIKASAN ANG ATING PARAISO

Isang malinis,maayos,sariwang hangin,sagana sa likas na yaman at tirahan iyan ang paraiso. Ito’y buong pusong ihinain n gating may likha ang kalikasang nasasa-ating pangangalaga. Isang paraisong maihahandog sa tao.

Ang paraiso ba natin ay ang ating daigdig. Tunay, isang paraiso ang daigdig….. paraisong likha ng kalikasang nasa kanyang sinapupunan….. kalikasang dito lamang matatagpuan. Hindi ito makikita sa magandang naglalakihang planeta.

Subalit sa pagdaan ng maraming taon ang kalikasan ng daigdig ay unti-unting naglaho dahil tumubo sa puso ng tao ang maimbot na paghahayag sa katanyagan. Pagnanasa sa higit pa sa kanyang pangangailangan. Pangangailangang nasasalig sa makasarili at makitid na layunin.

Ang daigdig ay isang paraiso. Manatili lamang ang kasaganaan nito kung tulung-tulong tayong makikibaka sa mga tao at bansang nagbabalatkayong may hangad ng pag-unlad, ngunit sumisira naman sa ating Paraiso. Ang mga walang pusong pumuputol sa ating mga puno; pumapatay sa ating mga halaman; nagpaparumi sa mga kailugan at karagatan at umuubos sa mga lamang dagat ay walang karapatang manatili sa ating paraiso. Itaboy sila sa kawalan.

Huwag hayaang maglaho ang paraisong Daigdig…. Ipagtanggol at pangalagaan natin ang kanyang kalikasan.

ANG KABATAAN SA KASALUKUYAN

Ano nga ba sa kasalukuyan ang kabataan? Marahil ay hindi na lingid sa inyo kung ano meron ang kabataan ngayon? Ano nga ba?

Sa panahon ngayon ay marami ng kabataan ang naliligaw ng landas.

Marami ng kabataan ang nagdodroga, nagsusugal, umiinom ng alak. Mga kabataan na sumasali sa mga praternity at mga kabataan na lumalabag sa batas. Tulad ng pagnanakaw at pagpatay.

Ano kaya sa palagay nyo kung bakit ito nangyayari? Kung bakit nila ito ginagawa? At bakit pa nila ito ipinagpapatuloy? Ano nga bang dahilan?

Marahil dahil sa udyok ng mga barkada. Sa kakulangan ng pera. Sa kawalan ng trabaho. Sa paghihiwalay ng mga magulang o dahil sa pagkabigo sa pag-ibig. 

Paano na ngayon ang ating bayan? Kung ganyan ang ginagawa ng mga kabataan. Hindi ba't sabi nila na "Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan"? Masasabi paba natin ngayon yan? Marahil ang iba ay hindi, at ang iba ay oo. Dahil mayroon pa naman ngayong mga kabataan na tumatahak sa tamang landas.

Kayong mga kabataan na naliligaw ng landas, gusto nyo bang tahakin ang tamang daan upang matupad ang inyong mga pangarap?

Hindi pa huli ang lahat para sa pagbabago. Marami pang paraan ang magagawa natin. Pwedeng pwede pa nating itama ang lahat.

Umiwas sa masasamang bisyo. Umiwas sa masasamang barkada. Gumawa tayo ng kabutihan, at tumulong tayo sa ating bayan, nang sa ganon ay masabi uli natin na... "Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan".

My 15 Quotes to Live and Learn

1.Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. 

{i apply this to my life by always learning and also i learn much from quotes such as these} 

2. Anyone who tries to pursue a goal, always has enemies 

{this quote is very personal to me in the fact of never giving up on my goals no matter what...I have used it much of my short life} 

3.Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. 

{what this says to me is "whats the point of dwelling on the past there is no changing it" and "dreaming of the future can only be done by working in the present"} 

4.Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. 

{so true is this quote, people always complain about something but really you make your life what it is and you cant blame that on anyone.} 

5.Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn't. 

{to me this means not matter how good you think you are, you can always be better.} 

6.Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't. 

{i always think that experience always beats education, reading something does not always help you learn or do something} 

7.Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes. 

{you learn from experience and from that you fix your future mistakes} 

8.Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment. 

9.In these times you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning. 

{i belive things are going to change and to keep up with it we must always be thinking....i have not a lot about issues around the world and how i think they will no day affect us} 

10.And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. 

{one of my favorite quotes because i think we as Americans have forgotten this and i hate it.} 

11.I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. 

{I have thought many of times about this quote and about the person to who said it "Nathan hale" and how brave he must have been to say that} 

12.By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. 

13.He dares to be a fool, and that is the first step in the direction of wisdom. 

14.Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress 

15.If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. 

{so very true, i think many people could learn from this =]}