A way to create a motivating and successful environment in the classroom.

The focus for the Comeniueproject 2013 /2015 "Motivate Us" is to develop an environment where our students are motivated for learning. That includes organization of the classroom, using the ICT and individual assessment. All our students have special needs, which increase the teacher's obligations and intension for making the environment motivating for each student.

 

Guest visitor Sarah Nakel.

The 28. January 2014 Sarah Nakel visited the Comenius group at Ullerødskolen - Denmark. Her mission was to inspire the group of teachers, social workers, headmasters a.s.o. to raise the motivation in the classroom and among their students. Sarah Nakels presentation was based on practical activities, which supported her point of bringing the learning and exploring environment in to the classroom. Sarah gave three fundamental issues for a successful learning environment. 1) To motivate the students Sarah implements songs, games and pictures. Her experience is that, this will stimulate the listening-, speaking-, reading- and writing skills, ideal for students who have special needs. 2) It was also a leading issue, to use topics and themes in the teaching. If those are matching the interest of the student, this will improve their motivation and maximize their learning. 3) The importance of creating a safe and stimulating atmosphere through daily routines. Sarah recommended creating an environment, where the students work in small teams, each with students of different ability levels. The groups will work together toward a common goal. Each group member learns new material and helps other students in the group learning important information. To make sure, that each student in the group achieve learning, Sarah pointed out, that the teacher have to match the students after different skills. Sarah Nakels strategies are based on the thinking af cooperative learning.

Characteristics of Cooperative Learning Groups.

(1991, Johnson and Smith: Cooperation in the College Classroom).

1. Positive Interdependence: Team members are obliged to rely on one another to achieve their goal.

2. Individual Accountability: All students in a group are held accountable for doing their share of the work.

3. Face-to-Face promotive interaction: Group assignments should be constructed so that the work cannot be simply parceled out and done individually. Assignments must include work that has to be done interactively.

4. Appropriate collaborative skills: Students are encouraged and helped to develop and practice trust building, leadership, decision-making, communication and conflict management.

5. Group processing: Team members set up group goals, periodically assess what they are doing well as a team, and identify changes they will make to function more effectively in the future.

6. Heterogeneous Groups: Individuals benefit the most from working with people different from themselves.

The benefits of cooperative learning is according to Spencer Kagan.

(1992, author to "Developed Structures Approach to Cooperative Learning").

Student achievement. The effects on student achievement are positive and long-lasting, regardless of grade level or subject matter.

Student retention. Students are more apt to stay in school and not drop out because their contributions are solicited, respected, and celebrated.

Improved relations. One of the most positive benefits is that students who cooperate with each other also tend to understand and like each other more.

Improved critical thinking skills. More opportunities for critical thinking skills are provided, and students show a significant improvement in those thinking skills.

Oral communication improvement. Students improve in their oral communication skills with members of their peer group. Promoted social skills.

Students' social skills are enhanced.

Heightened self-esteem. When students' work is valued by team members, their individual self-esteem and respect escalate dramatically

In this perspective a lot of the benefits and personal development matches the skills for the 21´centery, with are the reference for the Comeniusproject “Motivate Us”. For more information about Sarah Nakel material or cooperative leaning:

 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sarah-Nakel http://www.teach-nology.com/currenttrends/cooperative_learning/kagan/