Cooperative Groups

Project Management Guide

Classroom Management Plan
Cooperative Groups

Cooperative groups can be used in many different ways in the classroom. Typically, the groups are all working on the same assignment or activity but each member of the group has a different responsibility. With limited technology resources it is essential for teachers to identify how cooperative groups may be used to effectively implement a project. Responsibilities can shift among group members from day to day to give each member of the group an opportunity to take on a different role.

EXAMPLE: A teacher establishes six groups of four students to plot recent earthquakes on a world map given to each group. Each member of the group has a role. If students were plotting the data by hand the roles might be data collector and reviewer, plotter, checker, and results reporter. If the students were using a graphing program to plot the coordinates the roles might be data collector and reviewer, mouse operator/checker, keyboard operator/checker, and results reporter. While other members of the group were getting their work areas set up and planning their work, the data collectors of each group could assemble at one or two computers and find the data necessary to plot. They would be responsible for printing or copying it and relaying it back to their groups. They would also review the data to make sure it was complete. On subsequent days the roles would be rotated.

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QUESTIONS:

Can cooperative groups be used for any parts of the project you have selected? If so, which parts?
How will the groups be organized?
What will be the designated roles for each student?
How will the groups be managed?