AR Abstract

How will using cooperative learning affect the engagement in math of 9 5^th graders?

o Summarizes main ideas, findings, and questions in review of literature.

·       Cooperative learning is an effective cross cultural teaching strategy that has many benefits including positive face to face interaction, individual and group accountability and positive attitudes toward learning.

·       Cooperative learning fits well with every learning style and students respond well because they already have the social schema it takes to participate.

·       It eliminates the idea of competition among students and they start to like and care for each other and each other’s success.

·       Cooperative learning engages everyone instead of only one person sharing the answer.

o Communicates the action research’s impact on the learner’s teaching and learning.

Since learning more about cooperative learning I have implemented many strategies that involve group learning and participation. The first few weeks of school were spent teaching what group work should look like and sound like. We’ve modeled and practiced the difference between telling your group the answer and helping them to discover the answer on their own. I have tried to implement many activities where everyone answers questions instead of just calling on one person.

o Demonstrates a deeper understanding of the following components: assessment, discipline, environment, instruction, and teacher identity.

Overall I have been trying different strategies and ideas for implementing and adapting assessment and instruction with cooperative learning. I have discovered ways that are effective and things that don’t work. The environment in my classroom is changing and students have more accountability for themselves and their group. My understandings for each of these components is growing the more I try the strategies I’m learning about in my classroom.

o Briefly summarizes your plan for continued action research/inquiry.

My plan is to take data on the engagement of 9 students during math warm up time during cooperative learning times and when we are working alone. I will use on/off task checklists, student surveys which will ask about their preference and engagement and response journals where they have to describe their understanding of the problems.

Questions I still have:
Are there any online data tools I could use? Possibly class dojo?

Should I leave the groups the same or change it up everytime? Will this affect my data?

How long should I take data for?