THE INSTITUTE for Learning Centered Education NEWSLETTER

The Institute for Learner Centered Education Newsletters

TOPIC: STUDENTS COMMENT on COOPERATIVE LEARNING

Volume #5, Edition #7__________Date: February 16, 2004

Malone Middle School’s student advisory committee continues to demonstrate what students can accomplish when given the opportunity. Each year, guidance counselors Amy Hayes and Van Alexander work with twelve middle school students who are selected through a process designed to be representative of the student body. St. Lawrence University students assist with facilitation of the group.

We now have evidence of the middle school students’ enthusiasm and of their accomplishments. How do we measure their enthusiasm?

At the end of their first meeting in September, 2002, each student was asked to share a thought about the process. Almost to a person, the students said, “We thought you’d want to ask our opinions and have us do a few things, but now we realize you really want us to play an important role.”

Initially, the counselors were reluctant to request more than an hour a month from the students. Now, meetings are being scheduled on an as-needed basis because the students are excited about their work.

The first student project was a survey, conducted through interviews with randomly selected focus groups, to determine student responses to the question, “When students don’t achieve to their potential, what are some of the reasons?” The results were released a year ago and reported in my March 24 newsletter.

This past fall, the advisory committee asked students, “What is the one thing teachers need to do to be more effective?” The response that was offered more than any other was, “We wish they would treat us with more respect.” (This response will not surprise Niagara University professor Paul Vermette who contends that the relationship between middle school teachers and their students is the most important factor in determining their effectiveness.)

The Malone Middle School conducted its second annual Friday night/Saturday retreat at the end of this past January, funded by the Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) grant. The advisory committee shared the results of a survey on student’s reactions to different aspects of cooperative learning (see below). An interesting sidelight: when the advisory committee was formed, the students’ major task, along with their counselors, was to come up with topics of importance to investigate. Now that staff has had the opportunity to see what the students can do, the requests for student reports, surveys, and ideas on different topics are flowing so rapidly that the students are having to prioritize their work.

COOPERATIVE LEARNING SURVEY RESULTS

Total # of completed surveys: 129 40 completed by males

89 completed by females

1) Do you prefer working by yourself, in a group or with partners?

TOTAL	Boys	Girls
29	15	14
39	10	29
63	14	49

By yourself

In a group

With partners

2) When in groups, how do you make members who aren’t participating participate?

Total	Boys	Girls
23	5	18
11	6	5
95	27	68

Don’t help them

Threaten to tell a teacher

Compromise

3) What kind of consequences should people who aren’t following directions face?

Total	Boys	Girls
29	6	23
12	3	9
33	10	23
59	21	38

Pink slip

Automatic failure

Alternative assignment

Excluded from other projects (no hands on, only bookwork)

4) How should teachers pick groups?

Total	Boys	Girls
82	22	60
16	6	10
5	2	3
17	4	13
16	6	10

Students pick their own

Counting off

By rows/seating charts

Randomly

Teacher can balance (equal # motivated and non-motivated students per group)

5) When you work well should you get rewards? If so, what kinds?

Total	Boys	Girls
119	35	84
23	5	18
34	10	24
63	17	46
23	6	17
10	6	4

YES

Fake money to buy something in class

Bonus points

No homework (homework pass)

Candy

1) How often do you want to work in groups?

Total	Boys	Girls
33	12	21
64	16	48
19	4	15
8	6	2

Everyday

Once or more a week

Once or more a month

Never

2) What makes you do homework?

Total	Boys	Girls
30	12	18
70	18	52
15	5	10
1	0	1
16	4	12

Parents

Self-motivation

Teachers

Peers

Boredom

3) What kind of homework makes you learn better?

Total	Boys	Girls
9	3	6
38	12	26
8	1	7
13	7	6
62	14	48

Bookwork

Worksheets

Writing assignments

Reading and taking notes

Projects

4) How long, on average, does it take you to do your homework?

Total	Boys	Girls
59	24	35
57	9	48
9	2	7
5	3	2

Less than an hour

1 to 2 hours

3 to 5 hours

5 + hours

The author welcomes comments, feedback, reactions of any kind to the thoughts expressed (above).

Please feel free to forward this message to a friend or colleague. If you know someone who would like to be put on the list, please send a message to Don Mesibov at dmesibov@twcny.rr.com.

The Institute is currently registering the limited number of teams that will be enrolled for the 2004 summer conference. Don’t miss the opportunity for this unique conference that models the constructivist behaviors that teaches are using increasingly in the classroom. Check out the website of The Institute for Learning Centered Education: www.learnercentereded.org or, e-mail a request for information.

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