Karen Allard
To cite this article: Allard, K. Student Comments on Cooperative Learning and Multiple Intelligences Structures. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing. Kagan Online Magazine, Spring 2000. www.KaganOnline.com
Editor's
Note: Karen Allard is a Nationally Certified Kagan Trainer. We invited
Karen to share the results of her recent study on the of effects of
implementing
Kagan
Structures in her own classroom.
I wanted to share
something with you that I thought you might find interesting. For my Master's
in Adminstration Program we had to complete an ethnographic study for an assignment.
I decided to use my top five students who scored the highest on the SAT9 (more
on SAT9) last year. One of the questions I asked them was:
"Do cooperative
learning and multiple intelleigence strategies help you study for quizzes, review
information, and or help you discuss ideas and concepts about reading, writing
and social studies?"
I wanted to know what my
"cream of the crop" thought. I think I came back with some good feedback about
how CL and MI satisfies these gifted students. Below are their responses. One
preferred to remain anonymous and one preferred not to be included. I just
thought
you might be interested, because I was!
Joey Bowler, Scores on SAT9: Total Reading 99 Math 97
I feel challenged by the new learning strategies my teacher has
introduced.
Give One, Get One has done wonders for my test scores.
Flashcard Game helps me to re-memorize words in a fun way.
The use of music has really helped me focus when writing in class.
Mix, Music, Match is my favorite because it helps to exchange infromation and
it's a lot of fun. I love to boogie!
Anonymous Student, Scores on
SAT9: Total Reading 99 Math 99
Sharing different opinions when doing RallyRobin and RoundRobin
may change my point of view.
I can now understand where other people get their answers.
I have learned there is more to school than just sitting in my seat and being
quiet.
I am much more well-rounded as a student, because I understand there are many
ways to learn one thing.
I love working with my shoulder and eyeball partner.
Find Someone Who is educational but I'm not sitting down, I'm moving.
Kyle Christenson, SAT9 Scores: Total Reading 96 Math 99
Cooperative learning helps me generate ideas.
RoundRobin helps me learn about things that I did not know in our groups,
and a teammate may bring up something I forgot about.
Mind Maps have been incredibly helpful as far as learning and exams go.
RoundRobin is my favorite part of CL because everyone is able to speak and
it has to be about one subject, so no one should be off topic.
Erica Dessenberger, SAT9 Scores: Total Reading 93 Math 94
I think Mind Maps have helped me learn more things and remember
them at the same time.
When we learn content through song, I enjoy it and I know I will remember it
forever.
Cooperative learning helps me for tests because even if I think the content
is simple and easy, I can forget it, and CL helps me to remember.
Interacting with other students and studying at the same time helps me because
two heads at times are better than one.
When we discuss what has happened in a book, some people who may have forgotten
something will probably remember it a week to a month later.
Thanks For Letting Me Share,
Karen
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NOTE:
Kagan is compiling data on the effectiveness of the Kagan methods.
If any of you have any action research from your own classrooms or any comments
you would like to share, we would very much appreciate hearing from you. Please
E-mail Kagan at: Research@KaganOnline.com
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The
SAT9 is CA's new, required (two years now) standardized test for all students.
It is always taken in April and student and teacher results are posted on the
Internet and schools are then ranked. The state believes students who are at
the
50th percentile or above are at grade level, and my district and many others
use the SAT9 as a multiple measure for retention or promotion to the
next
grade.
It really is a big deal, so those students' responses that I shared with you
who
are scoring in the 99th percentile are incredible learners.
CA also now has the API index where schools are required to use their test scores
to rank their schools with others in the state.
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