StructuresDr. Spencer Kagan

Kagan Cooperative Learning ~ Chapter 6

“If teaching were the same as telling, we’d all be so smart we could hardly stand it.” – Mark Twain

Good teaching is student-centered, focusing on learning not teaching.

Good teaching goes beyond the words that comes out of the teacher’s mouth, it reaches out to students and asks:

What is learned?

 Structures…….

engagement and retention from meaningful experiences

active learning adventures more likely to reach students with different

intelligences and learning styles lose far fewer students to boredom and

disengagement help students enjoy school more develop a wide range of personal and social skills

The levels of knowing how to use structures:

Unconscious incompetence – never heard of it! Conscious incompetence – aware but you don’t

know how to do it Conscious competence – you can do it……..but

you have to think about it a lot Unconscious competence – like riding a bike or

driving a car – you go on about the structure automatically

Structures are like tools in the teacher’s toolbox

Structures make it POSSIBLE to do…………….

The impossible job!!!

Achieve high academic standardsVery diverse group of learnersTeach social skillsThinking skillsCommunication skillsMake wise decisionsBe creativeDevelop multiple intelligencesAcquire interpersonal skillsBecome persons of character

Meet the Teachers:Teacher A

Teacher B

Teacher C

Who says this?“I will ask a question, and call on someone

to answer it.”Teacher A“Talk the answer to this question over in

your groups. Turn to your partner and discuss the question and answers.”

Teacher B“Let’s use RallyRobin to discuss the

possible answers to this question…”Teacher C

What looks like this?Students sitting in straight, orderly

rows……Teacher A’s ClassroomStudents sitting in groups.Teacher B’s ClassroomStudents sitting in learning teams with

designated roles and responsibilities.Teacher C’s Classroom

Where would students…?

KEEP YOUR EYES ON YOUR OWN PAPER!!!

Teacher A’s ClassroomHelp each other. Solve the problem

with a group.Teacher B’s ClassroomServe as a Sage or a ScribeTeacher C’s Classroom

Teacher A

Needs to step UPher game…..

Teacher B

Does some good things, but could be involving and motivatingstudents more by using structures.

Teacher C

Has higher achievement gains, improved social skills, required participation by all students,and active engagement by all.

 

Structures

organize classroom instruction

are content free and repeatable

implement the basic principles of cooperative learning (PIES)

Know how to select the right tool for the job at hand.

Kagan has over 200 structures.Classbuilding (Find Someone Who or

Inside-Outside Circle) Teambuilding (Find-the-Fiction or RoundRobin)Social Skills (Talking Chips, Circle-the-Sage)Communication Skills (Match Mine or Same-Different)Decision-Making (Numbered Heads Together or Team

Statements) Knowledgebuilding (Mix-Freeze-Group or Showdown)Procedure Learning (Fan-N-Pick or Jigsaw)Processing Information (Popcorn or Journal Reflections)Thinking Skills (Jot Thoughts or Think-Pair-Share)Presenting Information (One Stray or Carousel Review)