Mike’s Blog
Strategies, Ideas and Insights for Teachers and Leaders
Tag: collaborative learning
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Understand and use the power of group dynamics to support differentiation in your lessons
General Introduction This blog is part of my Differentiation and Adaptive Teaching Knowledge Base. I use the terms differentiation and adaptive teaching synonymously. To me, they are the same, as…
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Question Stations and Question Cards: a pair of planning intensive questioning activities that reap big rewards
Question Stations Create six or seven stations around your room (this is working on the premise that you have around thirty learners). Each station should be focussed on a different…
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Two different ways to tap into the power of interviews so you can engage your learners and get them asking high-quality questions
Interviewing Here are three ways you can use interviewing as the basis of a classroom activity. Explain to learners that they will be interviewing their peers to find out their…
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One activity you and your learners can benefit from repeatedly, and a second that delivers collaborative learning that is almost guaranteed to work every time
Question Set Work with your class to develop a set of questions that can be used again and again when doing a specific type of task. Learners can then use…
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Why is assigning group roles a gamechanger for improving the quality of classroom discussion?
One of the difficulties inherent to group discussion is the teacher’s ceding of control. This can result in learners using the opportunity to talk socially or do no work. Another…
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What is the round table classroom discussion strategy, how does it work, and how can you use it to motivate your learners?
Round Table Discussion Strategy: Explanation Round Table is an unstructured discussion activity in which learners take the lead. In terms of numbers, I’d suggest the following: The deciding factor will…
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Channel the power of continental café culture to create wonderful discussion opportunities for your learners
Café Culture Discussion Strategy: Explanation This activity takes its inspiration from café-style culture. The room is set-up in a series of pods. These are made up of one or two…
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A reminder of why think-pair-share works and how easy it is to use as the basis of discussion
Think-Pair-Share Discussion Strategy: Explanation Think-Pair-Share can stand alone, or it can be used within other types of discussion. As a method, its purpose is to provide a safe, accessible way…
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Use ‘rotating stations’ to get learners motivated to learn about new ideas and information in your lessons
Rotating Stations Discussion Strategy: Explanation Set up six or seven separate stations in your classroom. Each should have something that will stimulate discussion. Examples include: In addition to the stimulus…
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Why is radio phone-in a great discussion tool any teacher can use to develop oracy and collaborative learning?
Radio Phone-In Discussion Strategy: Explanation This activity uses the set-up of a radio show to create committed, in-depth discussion. Begin by dividing the class into four or five groups then…