Key 2: Teams

Kagan Cooperative Learning by Dr. Spencer KaganChapter 7 Presentation by Pam Moeai

• Materials Needed:– Teamformation Cards (7.6)– Card Sorting Method (7.7)– Achievement Ranked List Method (7.8-7.9)– Team Tracking Sheet (7.14)– Animal Sounds (7.15)– Team Dynamics Observation Form (7.18)– Parting Messages For… (7.24)

Key 2: Teams

“Working cooperatively in teams is a wonderful experience for students and provides opportunities for

students to develop social and life skills that will serve them well throughout life.”

– Dr. Spencer Kagan

The Basic Cooperative Learning Team• The Four Student Team– Teams of Four Allow Pair Work– Teams of Four Avoid Odd Man Out– Teams of Four Increase Variety

(Team of Four, Shoulder Partners, Face Partners)– Teams of Four Optimize Cognitive and Linguistic

Mismatch(Piagetian development work, as well as research that we learn well from someone only somewhat different from our own level of development—someone who can provide stimulation in our Zone of Proximal Development.

Teams of FourDouble the Lines of Communication

12

3

1

2 3

4

5 6

Handling Extra/Absent Students

3 Extra Students: 1 Team of 3

2 Extra Students: 2 Teams

of 3

1 extra

Student: 1

team of 5

3 Teammates Absent: Move

remaining students to the smallest

team.

2 Teammates A

bsent: Pull a

student fr

om a team of 5

or 4

to work with th

at team.

1 teammate

Absent: No

change

necessary.

The Four Major Types of Teams

Heterogeneo

usTeams

RandomTeams

Student-SelectedTeams Homo

geneous

Teams

Heterogeneous Teams

A number of researchers and theorists have identified Heterogeneous Student Teams as a defining, basic characteristic of Cooperative Learning. In general, these teams can remain intact for six weeks and have the following advantages:

Increased opportunities for peer tutoring and support!

Improved cross-race and cross-sex relations and integration!

ANDMakes classroom management easier—having a high achiever

on each team can be like having one teacher aide for every three students!

Forming Heterogeneous Teams• Team Tools Software

http://www.kaganonline.com/products/teamtools/index.html

• Teamformation Cards – Card Sorting Method

http://www.lauracandler.com/strategies/teamform.php

• Teamformation Pocket Chart http://www.kaganonline.com/products/teamtools/index.html

• Achievement-Ranked List Method (See Hand-out)• The Sticky Note Method• The Spreadsheet Method• Pairs Pair Method• Team Leader Method

Click here to learn more about team formations!

Team Card pdf

BACK

The Sticky Note Method

• First, divide your class into four equal parts (High, High Medium, Low Medium, and Low).

• Next, write student names on color-coded sticky notes. All the Highs are one color, all the High Mediums are another color, and so on.

• When forming teams, simply select four sticky notes, one of each color.

• If the team doesn’t feel right, it’s easy to un-stick the notes and form a new team.

**You could use the same method using the InterWrite/SmartBoard Tools for a more permanent “Sticky Note” Method

BACK

The Spreadsheet Method• A spreadsheet application such as Excel can be very helpful in team

formations and for keeping track of previous team assignments.• Requires a basic working knowledge of spreadsheets

– Create a “Students” column with students rank-ordered by achievement.– The next column is students’ “Ability Level”.– Divide the rank list into four equal parts and label students as High, High-

medium, Low-medium, and Low– Now move student rows in your spreadsheet to

represent your team selection.– There are two ways to move students around while

keeping the rest of your data intact. Either create a second spreadsheet and copy and paste rows so students from the same team are one below another, or using your original spreadsheet, insert a row where you wish to move a student, then move the student to that empty row.

– Once your happy with your selection, add the team numbers in the third column, “Assignment 1.”

– By recording your team assignments, you can easily see if students have worked on the same team.

BACK

Pairs-Pair Method• Developed by Dr. Julie High, author of Second language Learning

Through Cooperative Learning• Students are divided into four groups (High, High-medium, Low-

Medium, Low)• The High and Low groups meet on one side of the room, while the

High-Medium and Low-Medium students meet on the other side• High and Low groups pair up, while

High-Medium and Low-Medium students pair up.

• Then…the pairs pair up with a pair from the opposite side.

• This type of method is especially effective when used in classrooms that do not have a wide level of diversity. BACK

Team Leader Method• The following is a version of a method developed by Richard Shetley (Alta

Loma Junior High School, Alta Loma, CA) It is an easy, fair way to have students select their own heterogeneous teams, and it provides some students the most powerful peer inclusion experience of their life!– Select Team Leaders. Select the highest achieving 7 or 8 students as team

leaders, one per team.– Leadership Meeting. Meet with the leaders as a group. Explain that the success

of their team relies on mixed ability levels. Have them decide which of the lowest ability students will be on each team.

– Leaders Choose Teammates. The next day in class, announce that there will be student teams and announce the team leaders. As rehearsed before, the team leaders seek out a low-level student and invite him/her to be on their team.

– High-Low Pair Choose Middle. The leader and new team member sit down together and decide on a second choice for the pool of remaining middle ability-level students.

– High-Low-Middle Triad choose Last Teammate. The three members choose the remaining teammate.

BACK

Random Teams

• As the name suggests, random teams are truly random. There is no rhyme or reason why students are placed on the same team.

• Teams should be short-lived• Teams may last long term, but meet only briefly once a

week to work on a project• NOT recommended for long-term,

base teams• Why use Random Teams??– Random teams add excitement and

suspense to the classroom. Who will I get to work with today?

Random Teamformation Methods

• Traditional Methods– Counting off

• 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on…

– Number Cards• Numbered cards form teams of four

– Playing Cards• Playing Cards work exactly like Number Cards, but they

have two big advantages– First, the teacher does not have to make up the deck, but

rather uses a store-bought deck of playing cards– Second, the cards have a built-in role assignment.

» Typically, the heart is the Praiser» The Club is the Taskmaster» The Spade is the Materials Monitor» And Diamond is the Recorder

Random Teamformation Methods• Fun, Teambuilding Methods

– Puzzled People. A picture is torn into four parts and each student gets one part. The goal? To complete the puzzle forming a team of four

– Animal Sounds. (See Hand-out) A fun way to form teams! Students are each given a card with the name or picture of an animal. There are four cards for each animal. Students mix through the room trading cards with each other until the teacher calls, “Stop”. Students then look at their card, close their eyes, and attempt to find their teammates by making the sound of their animal

– Other Structures with Built-In Random Teamformations• Traveling Heads Together. Like Numbered Heads Together, once the answer is decided upon by the

team, the teacher calls out a number, like “3”. That numbered student stands up. The teams wildly beckon for a new number “3” to join their group. If a teacher calls different numbers for three consecutive rounds, there will be new teams of 4 formed, and the students can then “get down to business”!

• Stir-the-Class. Just like Traveling Heads Together, except student teams begin by standing as a team around the perimeter of the room. Random teams are formed after three rounds of Stir-the-Class if the teacher has the first student rotate one ahead, the next student rotate two ahead, and the third student rotate three ahead

• One Stray. Three rounds of One Stray, with the straying student remaining at the team they joined, forms random teams exactly like three rounds of Traveling Heads Together. Again, students need to know they cannot stray to a team where an original teammate is seated.– Other Kagan Structures that can be used for Random Teamformation Methods

» Mix-Freeze-Group. » Find Your Number» Inside Outside Circle

Student-Selected Teams

• On an occasional basis, students are allowed to form their own teams. When given the opportunity, students usually select partners and teammates that they know and like. This familiarity can be a big plus for team dynamics. Students having similar interests facilitates team decision making. Students have already bonded, so less time for teambuilding is required.

• Students enjoy the control and feeling trusted to occasionally select their own teams. The enjoyment of friendships spill over into the academic realm, making learning more fun and productive. Allowing friends to work together at times can bring new energy to academics.

Student-Selected Teamformation Methods

• Free-Choice Method. Students can sit anywhere they want with whomever they wish, as long as groups of four are formed.– These teams are temporary– The teacher observes dynamics of groups to gain insight into possible problems (See “Team

Dynamics Observation Form)• Team Captains

– Team Captains are chosen and sit at different tables. Each Team Captain takes a turn choosing a teammate. Team Captains can consult with their newly-selected teammates for their next teammate choice.• The Good…When the choosing is finished, the teams are all seated and ready to go!• The Bad…Possibly UGLY…The last students chosen may feel like “leftovers” creating a horrible situation

that is not so easily remedied.

• Numbered Choice– Here the students get to decide which team they would like to be on. Each student pulls a

number out of a hat. They then form a circle around the room. Student #1 decides which table he/she would like to sit at. The “sorting” continues until all students have had some input as to where they want to sit, as well as with whom they want to be teamed with.

• Stand Up- Hand Up-Pair Up, Pairs Up– Students put a hand up and stand up in the classroom. They find a partner the want to work

with, put their hands down, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder. If students are seeking just a partner, their job is done. They sit down with their new partner. But if they are forming a team, the pairs pair up with another pair to form a team of four.

Potential Pitfalls and Solutions

• Off-Task Behavior– Friends share interests beyond

academics and can get off task• Solution: The teacher makes it very clear that the teams will only

get one warning for off-task behavior. If the off-task behavior persists, they will be split up. Students find working with their friends rewarding and will make an effort to keep focused.

• Last To Be Picked– No one likes to be the last picked for a team. It can be a blow

to an already fragile self image.• Solution: To avoid this problem, the teacher should identify the

students least likely to be selected by other students and select them to be Team Captains. The Numbered Choice method is also an effective solution as students decide for themselves which teams they’d like to work on.

Homogeneous Teams• Homogeneous means “the same or similar.”

– Students on homogeneous teams share the same or similar characteristics along one dimension. Students can be of the same ability level, share similar interests, or speak the same language.

– Homogeneous teams should only be used on an occasional basis.• Homogeneous Ability Team Advantages

– “Zone of Proximal Development “is enhanced.– Students are challenged to improve within a safe difficulty level.– Students who are High Achievers are given experience in becoming followers, not

always the leaders.– Students who are Low Achievers are given experience in becoming leaders, not

always followers.– Differentiated Instruction can be more easily managed

• Homogeneous Interest Teams. – These teams are selected solely by the students’ interests. For example, if the

assignment was to study famous Americans, the groups could be formed by those students interested in the same American.

– Interest teams can be used more frequently than homogeneous ability teams without fostering negative stereotypes. Students on interest teams share similar interests, but the teams will likely be mixed with regard to race, sex, and ability.

Forming Homogeneous Teams• Interest Teams

– Corners and the Predetermined Selection• The teacher posts options in the four corners

of the classroom. • The students write down the number of their

choice.• When ready, the teacher tells the students to

go to the corner they find most interesting. (Students may only go to the corner chosen, not where their best friend is going…thus the use of the written number!)– The choices don’t always have to be four. The teacher could also instruct the students to

choose a side…appropriately called “Sides”.

– Similarity Groups and the Open-Ended Selection• Here, the students are the ones who make up the topics. Groups are formed by

students who have similar interests in the chosen topics.• Again, ALWAYS have students write down their choice before moving to their

groups. This will avoid the ever popular triple “F”, or more commonly known as “Friend Following Friend” scenario.

Keeping Track of All The Madness! (See “Team Tracking Sheet” Hand-out)

The Four Major Types of Teams

Heterogeneous Teams Mixed ability, sex, race teams

Random Teams Randomly formed teams

Student-Selected Teams Students select own teams

Homogeneous Teams Teams with a shared trait (ability, interest, language, etc…)

Okay…But which ones are the BEST??

The Pros and Cons of Different Types of TeamsTeam Type Positives Negatives

1. Heterogeneous BalancedMaximum cross-race, cross-sex, and cross-ability contactMaximizes tutoringManagement easier for equal ability level teamsHigh achiever on each team

Requires teacher prep timeRequires ranking and labeling studentsLimited contact between the high achieversLimited leadership opportunities for low achievers

2. Random FairSide-steps labels and rankingNo prior student knowledge necessaryClassbuilding and networking opportunitiesQuick and easyNovelty, variety, fun

Could form “winner” and “loser” teamsDiversity not ensuredTeams with friends, potential for off-task behaviorTeams with enemies and conflicts

3. Homogeneous Leadership opportunities for low achieversInteraction opportunities for high achieversOpportunity for some high achievers to experience being a teammate, not leaderHigh esteem for top groupsInterest teams promote inquisitiveness

Too-similar groups lack input in Zone of Proximal DevelopmentNegative stereotypesPoor Self-esteem for low groupsLack of equityDifficult to manage class of teams at different ability levels

4. Student-Selected Novelty, variety, funFamiliarityEasy decision making and consensus

Not balancedHigh potential for off-task behavior

Parting Messages

• We all have many parting throughout life; school can be a place where we learn to part with dignity and grace.– 1. Students each write their name at the top of a copy of the

Parting Messages Form. (Use colored paper when you copy the form.)

– 2. Students pass their Parting Message form to the person on their left within the team.

– 3. Each student writes a positive message to the person whose form they have.

– 4. Forms are passed and filled out until they return to the original sender.

See “Parting Messages For…” Hand-out

Team Reunions• Michael L. Bettino (Rolling Hills High School, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School

District, CA) has a class with the following ethnic makeup: eight Anglo American, four Persian, four Japanese, three Chinese, two Indian (from India), one French, one Canadian, and one South American Student. They instituted Team Reunions as follows:

“After six weeks of heterogeneous groups in an 11th grade regular English III class (American Literature and composition), it was time to make new groups. I made the changes and found a certain amount of hostility to the new groups. A student asked if they could have a five minute “Group Reunion.”I let them do this—and then they returned to their new groups. Now the new groups are rolling along very smoothly.A new Group Reunion will take place in two weeks and will be a regular part of the program.”

The Team Reunion well might be used in any class to have an old team become an ongoing support group for students. As students discuss with their old teammates how things are going in their new teams, they might gain support as well as insights not otherwise possible.