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= = ** Cooperative or collaborative learning is a team process **

where members support and rely on each other to achieve an agreed-upon goal. The classroom is an excellent place to develop team-building skills you will need later in life. ** Cooperative/collaborative learning is interactive; **

** as a team member, you: ** > questions, insights and solutions > Each member empowers the other to speak and contribute, > and to consider their contributions ** What makes for a good learning team? ** > An instructor begins by facilitating discussion and suggesting alternatives > but does not impose solutions on the team, especially those having difficulty working together > Larger teams have difficulty in keeping everyone involved > They function better than self-assigned groups > that is defined and understood by the group >> (The person fired then has to find another group to accept him/her) >> (This person can often easily find another group to welcome his/her contributions) > defined and agreed to by each member. These include: >> You may need to perform tasks that you have little experience, feel ill-prepared for, or even think others would do better. Accept the challenge, but be comfortable in stating that you may need help, training, a mentor, or have to resign and take on different task. ** Process: ** Refer to the **Group Project Guide** > to discuss what is working and what is not working Teams with problems should be invited or required to meet with the instructor to discuss possible solutions.
 * develop and share a common goal
 * contribute your understanding of the problem:
 * respond to, and work to understand, others' questions, insights and solutions.
 * are accountable to others, and they are accountable to you
 * are dependent on others, and they depend on you
 * Team activities begin with training in, and understanding group processes.
 * Three to five people
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Teacher-assigned groups
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Diverse skill levels, backgrounds, experience
 * 1) Each individual brings strengths to a group
 * 2) Each member of the group is responsible to not only contribute his/her strengths, but also to help others understand the source of their strengths
 * 3) Any member who is at a disadvantage or not comfortable with the majority should be encouraged and proactively empowered to contribute
 * 4) Learning is positively influenced with a diversity of perspective and experience increasing options for problem solving, and expanding the range of details to consider
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Commitment of each member to a goal
 * 1) Confidential peer ratings are a good way to assess who is and who is not contributing
 * 2) Groups have the right to fire a non-cooperative or non-participating member if all remedies have failed.
 * 1) Individuals can quit if they believe they are doing most of the work with little assistance from the others.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Shared operating principles and responsibilities,
 * 1) Commitment to attend, prepare and be on time for meetings
 * 2) Have discussions and disagreements focus on issues, avoiding personal criticism
 * 3) Take responsibility for a share of the tasks and carry them out on time
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Set up goals, define how often and with what means you will communicate, evaluate progress, make decisions, and resolve conflict
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Define resources, especially someone who can provide direction, supervision, counsel, and even arbitrate
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;">Schedule review of your progress and communication