COOPERATIVE LEARNING

Students are encouraged to form study groups to complete homework assignments, special class projects, or to simply study for exams.  Cooperative learning groups should consist of 2 to 5 students.  The following guidelines will be followed for all cooperative learning groups.

• Students work and learn together in small groups (2-5 members).

• Each group submits one set of solutions to an assigned project and
  each member of the group receives the same score on the
  assignment.

• Bonus points may be earned on tests.  For example, if each member of the group earns at least a C or B on a given test.  More details will be given in class.

• Each member of the group is expected to contribute. There is
  positive interdependence. Cooperation is necessary for students to
  succeed.

• Group members can vote to remove a member from the group
  who is not doing his/her share of the work.

• Individual Grades are also assigned. Students are expected to
  work individually on most major exams. However, some exams may
  require a group effort.

• Group members support each other and encourage each other to continue to work hard and to stay enrolled in the class.  Bonus points maybe given to groups that stay intact throughout the semester.

• The teacher's role is to provide guidance to the group.

Students working in groups will be expected to submit periodic reports discussing the group activities.  The report may focus on suggestions or problems that need solutions.

The following are statements made by students who participated in cooperative learning groups.

"I really enjoyed working in groups.  Sometimes I was lost but I could always count on one of the team members to help me out."

"I would have probably dropped the class if it had not been for the encouragement that I received from the other persons in our group."

"It was difficult finding a time when we all could meet. However, I really enjoyed the group work."

"Everything seemed to go ok when we got together to work out the homework problems or to study for any exam.  We had one person in our group that hardly ever made our meetings.  We discussed it with Dr. Lerma and he removed him from the group.  I think the guy eventually dropped the class."

"I started off the semester not working in a group because of my work schedule.  Later on my schedule changed and I was able to hooked up with a group.  I was really glad.  There was one guy in our group that was a brain and could always explain the homework assignment to us."

"My experience in our group was not so good.  We could never find a good time to meet.  Sometimes only two of the group members would show up. One time I was the only one to show up."