Megan Healy, Biology Faculty, Patrick Henry CC

Greg Hodges, Dean, Patrick Henry CC

Transforming Colleges and Classrooms through

Active Cooperative Learning

Something to Ponder…

It is time for us to reaffirm that education – that, teaching in all its forms – is the primary task of higher education.

Stanford University President Emeritus

Donald Kennedy

Video #1

PHCC Facts and Info• Martinsville, VA; Foothills of VA• Headcount – appx. 3000• FTE – appx. 2400• 68% receive financial aid• Highest unemployment in VA for 15 years

running• Hovers around 18-20% • Large population of “TRADE” workers (dislocated

factory workers)

PHCC’s service region

Why Cooperative Learning?

• Encourage contact between students and faculty• Develops reciprocity and cooperation among

students• Encourages active learning• Give prompt feedback• Emphasizes time on task• Communicate high expectations • Respects diverse talents and ways of learning • Meeting Standards

Chickering and Gamson (1987); Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education

10% of what we read

20% of what we hear

30% of what we see

50% of what we see and hear

80% of what we say

90% of what we say and do

Resources for Organization Bowperson Publishing & Training, INC.

America’s Perfect Storm

ETS Policy Information report (2007) states that America is in the midst of a perfect storm.

Three forces will impact the future of our nation:

• Divergent skill distribution• Changing Economy• Changing Demography

2006 REPORT: “Are they ready to work?”

(21st Century workforce)

Basic Skills ranked as “very important” for 2 yr colleges &

Tech school Grads

1. Professionalism & Work Ethic 83.4%

2. Teamwork/Collaboration 82.7%

3. Oral Communications 82.0%

4. Critical Thinking/Problem Solving 72.7%

5. Written Communications 71.5%

6. Ethics & Social Responsibility 70.6%

Group Work is Not CL!!!

Cooperative Learning

• Group effort required;• Students may be

evaluated as a group;• Students accountable

to each other;• Social Skills are

improved;• Emphasis on process

and product.

Group Work

• Little joint effort required;

• Students evaluated individually;

• Minimal interaction;• Helping and Sharing

is minimal;• More “free-riders”; • Emphasis on

product.Activity: Share a CL Experience (+ or-)

Graduation and Transfer Rates with/without CL First Semester

CL in Action – Pass Rates (10/11)

Developmental Math (Fast track with CL):

MTH 09 (pre-Algebra) - 70% MTH 03 (Algebra I) - 74% MTH 04 (Algebra II) - 81%

Survival Rates with/without CL First Semester

What Does This Data Mean?

If students are enrolled in CL classes:• We keep them enrolled for the current

semester!• We get them to come back the next

semester!

• Activity: Road blocks – identify!!!!

Roadblocks

Types of Cooperative Groups

•Base Groups

•Formal

•Informal

Video #2 – explains each!

LECTURE BUSTING WITH INFORMAL COOPERATIVE

LEARNING!

Problem Student Case Study“Your cooperative groups are working on long-term

projects which will end with presentations to the class. You have given them class time to plan and organize. One group is upset because Stella, one of the members is a chronic absentee. She is continuing to attend school but only 2-3 days a week, and she has not done any of the work the group has asked her to do. Since part of the grade will be based on how well everyone in the group participates, the group is afraid that Stella will bring down the group grade. They want Stella out of the group.”

HO: case study

1. Let the group decide what they want to do.

2. You sit down with the group (without Stella) and discuss some ways to get Stella involved at this time.

3. You sit down with the entire group (Stella, too) and set some firm guidelines for continued participation.

4. You call Stella in your office only and discuss why she needs to participate in the group.

5. You allow Stella to work alone and do a presentation by herself.

6. You (instructor) remove Stella out of the group. resulting in a 0 for Stella, since this is a “group” presentation

In Your Group… RANK THE RESPONSES

FROM 1 (FIRST) TO 6 (LAST)

SCALE Institutewww.scaleinstitute.com

• Southern Center for Active Learning Excellence• Annual institute (May)• External Trainings - 8 certified trainers

• Trained colleges from VA, NC, MA, OH, IL, CA, AK, PA

• Courses:

1. Cooperative Learning for the Community College Classroom (4CL)

2. Fundamentals of Active Critical Thinking (FACT)

3. Advanced Student Engagement Techniques (ASET)

4. Active Learning in an Online Environment (CL for DL)

Questions and Panel Discussion……..