Guidelines for Cooperative Learning Interactions

written by Diana Roth, Lanphier High School, Springfield, IL
modified by Carl Wenning, ISU Physics Teacher Education Program

(last updated 4/5/2010, cjw)

With today's reliance on text messaging, cell phones, instant messaging, Twitter, Facebook, and other ways to conduct communication that are not face-to-face, and with younger students spending less time interacting in social settings and spending more time on academics from the very beginning, is it any surprise that many students today lack appropriate social skills for interaction? Putting students together in groups and expecting them to interact in a positive manner without appropriate training is a bit naive if not misguided. Students today, more than ever, need to be introduced to and educated in social skills.

Class Participation Rules

1. Every student will contribute to the discussion.
2. Every student will be non-judgmental of other student's opinions.
3. Every student will have the opportunity to express his or her ideas without their ideas being attacked.
4. Every student will ask questions when an idea or fact is presented that they do not understand.

Group Participation Rules

1. Each member of the group will contribute to the project.
2. Each member will avoid the use of put-down language.
3. Each member will get to know and learn to trust others.
4. Each member communicates accurately and unambiguously.
5. Each member accepts and supports other students.
6. Each member will resolve conflicts constructively.
7. Each member of the group will talk to an interact only with his/her group.
8. Each group member will be present and ready to work.
9. Each group member will do the research or work assigned to him/her.
10. Each group member will be present for group presentations or their grade will be lowered. If the absent group member does not wish to have their grade lowered, (s)he can come in on their own time and deliver an oral presentation by him/herself.

Return to Cooperative Learning