Cooperative Learning, Groups of 2 or 4 etc.

In the 80's research coming out of the US suggested that one of the skills that they were looking for in a prospective employee was that of the ability to work COOPERATIVELY!

This meant as an adviser on Maths Education I(along with many others) encouraged, supported teachers in developing various cooperative learning approaches.  This was very important for girls as they tended to like working cooperatively.

We encouraged teachers to get away from "sitting at tables" and completing the work assigned, and into cooperative situations to investigate and learn mathematics.

Cooperative Learning was encouraged with students, in a group of four assigned different tasks like: Questioner, Reporter, Gopher, On task requirer:(these tasks were rotated so everyone got a turn at each) to complete an assigned task or investigation.  The beauty of this was that all the group "had to own the result" that was reported back.  A resource that had all sorts of assistance for teachers was "A Part To Play" (possibly out of print) But Amazon has amazing array of Cooperative Learning Resources.

Thin, Pair, Share was one of the activities that was great for involving all students in the group/class. With no discussion with others, Each Student had to THINK about a possible answer or approach to the task posed.  After an appropriate length of time the teacher would ask the students to share PAIR with a partner(or other sized group) to see if they could come up with a consensus, students were allowed to say they couldn't.  Then it was time for the small groups to SHARE their findings with the larger group/class.
One of the main benefits that I saw was that all students were engaged AND it stopped the fast thinkers, "wanting to please" kids from waving hands to suggest answers etc, AS WELL AS the student who never answers in a larger group a chance to share their thinking and it necessary have something to contribute if asked.

These approaches were also encouraged through "The Numeracy Project Professional Development" in the 2000's.

My question is:  Is maths, again being taught with students in desks and very little discussion?
If so, no wonder our results are heading downwards, and we cant blame National Standards because they were a reporting tool not a teaching approach!

I ask that question as on the TVOne News this week we have the Associate Minister of Education saying(this from the written press release) "The initiative includes group learning instead of the usual individual model most schools offer. It was launched today at Koru School in Māngere."

The full TV One Report is: "The New Zealand Government is putting $7.2 million into the initiative, which is using cultural knowledge to boost maths skills.

The initiative includes group learning instead of the usual individual model most schools offer. It was launched today at Koru School in Māngere.

Jenny Salesa, Associate Minister of Education, says it’s about learning in a culturally safe way.

“Some of our students tell us when we were out consulting last year that they don’t feel that school is their place - that they feel excluded,” she said.

“But this kind of learning … it’s about learning in a culturally safe way and our students, the best comes out of them.”

Dr Bobbie Hunter, initiative co-leader, says there is no one size fits all.

“In fact, these children are not the same as every other child. They don’t come from the same homes, they don’t come with the same practices or beliefs, they don’t come with the same knowledge,” said Ms Hunter.

The initiative uses cultural examples the children are familiar with, to help them feel comfortable engaging.

It kicks off in 25 schools across Auckland but will be extended to 50 by next year.

The New Zealand Government is putting $7.2 million into the initiative, which is using cultural knowledge to boost maths skills.

The initiative includes group learning instead of the usual individual model most schools offer. It was launched today at Koru School in Māngere.

Jenny Salesa, Associate Minister of Education, says it’s about learning in a culturally safe way.

“Some of our students tell us when we were out consulting last year that they don’t feel that school is their place - that they feel excluded,” she said.

“But this kind of learning … it’s about learning in a culturally safe way and our students, the best comes out of them.”

Dr Bobbie Hunter, initiative co-leader, says there is no one size fits all.

“In fact, these children are not the same as every other child. They don’t come from the same homes, they don’t come with the same practices or beliefs, they don’t come with the same knowledge,” said Ms Hunter.

The initiative uses cultural examples the children are familiar with, to help them feel comfortable engaging.

It kicks off in 25 schools across Auckland but will be extended to 50 by next year."

 I have no gripe with the cultural appropriate resources being developed, as I encouraged that at MOE Hui in the past, but the fact that it is alleged  "we have reverted to an individual model for teaching/learning mathematics"

Please teachers please institute THINK PAIR SHARE as a way of encouraging ALL students to achieve in mathematics as an Individual model is outdated and failed for hundreds of peopl over the past 100 years.