cooperative learning

group processing

• Purpose: continuous improvement
• Decide what was helpful, what was not
• Make decisions about future changes
• Increases individual accountability

4 elements

• Feedback: receiving/giving
• Feedback: receiving/giving
• Reflection: analyze the feedback
• Reflection: analyze the feedback
• Improvement goals: looking forward
• Celebration: encouragement based on hard work

skillful feedback

• Can create energy and constructive action
• Focus on positive actions
• Discuss behavior, not person
• Must be specific, concrete, descriptive
• Must be prompt, not delayed

Reflections

• Analysis of group effectiveness using the feedback
• Analysis of group effectiveness using the feedback
• Which behaviors/strategies were useful?
• Which behaviors/strategies were useful?
• Which behaviors/strategies need to be changed?
• Consider variations in reflection exercises to prevent stagnation

incorporating reflections

• Small Group Processing
•         Individuals share and discuss within their groups
• Whole Class Processing
• 1. Instructor shares observations
• 2. Invites students to answer reflection questions

improvement goals

• Bridge between reflection and future action
• Must be specific and measurable
• Group must create a goal for the next event
• Individuals create a goal that contributes to the team goal

celebration

• Encouragement based on hard work
• Recognition is a powerful incentive
• Key to group and individual persistence
• Reinforces desired behaviors

obstacles

• Can be time-consuming
• Processing responses can be too vague
• Students can be uninterested in processing
• Requires student to have strong listening skills

summary

• Processing is KEY to student improvement
• Ineffective behaviors can flourish without processing
• 4 steps: feedback, reflection, goals, celebrations 
• Actively plan for processing 
• Remember to allow enough time!