Increase Participation: Strategies for Effective Groupwork

Facilitating successful collaborative groupwork in science and math education can be challenging due to difficulties in crafting collaboration-dependent tasks, ensuring focused productivity, and addressing workload and participation imbalances among students.  Our course, designed for educators dedicated to enhancing math and science engagement, introduces Complex Instruction (CI) as a research-backed instructional strategy. Participants will delve into strategies to improve collaboration through groupwork, learning how to address common pitfalls while engaging students with challenging content. By the end of the course, teachers will possess a toolkit of strategies to improve group dynamics, foster participation, and deepen student engagement in collaborative settings. Armed with these skills, participants will be equipped to create collaborative learning environments where every student can thrive, ultimately shaping the next generation of scientists and mathematicians who value and excel in teamwork.

Highlights

• Identify the components of Complex Instruction (CI) and develop specific plans for implementing components of CI in their classroom
• Use participation quizzes, role interventions, and status treatments to disrupt traditional participation patterns
• Develop instructional tasks that use the multiple abilities treatment.
• Redefine what it means to be “smart” in your classroom
• Plan, enact, and reflect on lessons that use Complex Instruction

Associated Workshops 

Increasing Participation in Groupwork
Actionable Norms for Effective Groupwork