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Positive
Interdependence
Students
perceive that they need each other in order to complete the
group's task ("sink or swim together"). Teachers may structure
positive interdependence by establishing mutual goals (Learn
and make sure all other group members learn), joint reward
(if all group members achieve above the criteria, each will
receive bonus points), shared resources (one paper for each
group or each member receives part of the required information),
and assigned roles (summarizer, encourager of participation,
elaborator).
Face-to-Face Promotive Interaction
Students
promote each other's learning by helping, sharing, and encouraging
efforts to learn. Students explain, discuss, and teach what
they know to classmates. Teachers structure the groups so
that students sit knee-to-knee and talk through each aspect
of the assignment.
Individual
Accountability
Each student's
performance is frequently assessed and the results are given
to the group and the individual. Teachers may structure individual
accountability by giving an individual test to each student
or randomly selecting one group member to give the answer.
Interpersonal and Small Group
Skills
Groups cannot
function effectively if students do not have and use the needed
social skills. Teachers teach these skills as purposefully
and precisely as academic skills. Collaborative
and cooperative skills include leadership, decision-making,
trust-building, communication, and conflict-management skills.
Group Processing
Groups need
specific time to discuss how well they are achieving their
goals and maintaining effective working relationships among
members. Teachers structure group processing by assigning
such tasks as (a) list at least three members actions that
helped the group be successful and (b) list one action that
could be added to make the group more successful tomorrow.
Teachers also monitor the groups and give feedback on how
well the groups are working together to the groups and the
class as a whole.
from:
Johnson, D.W. and Johnson, R. (1989) Cooperation and Competition.
Edina, MN: Interaction Book Co.
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