Action Research

Anita Harris

Jennifer Hawkins

Virginia Kinnaird

Kagan Cooperative Learning

Will implementing Kagan cooperative learning structures improve student engagement and Algebra I scores?

Kagan Structures for Math

Why this topic? Algebra I is an area of need/low

performance. Only 57.9 % of Algebra I students

scored proficient on the Algebra I End of Course test in 2011-2012.

Traditional methods have not improved student learning significantly.

Algebra I teachers attended Kagan professional development in Florida this past July.

This action research will hopefully affirm their efforts in restructuring how Algebra I is taught and show an improvement in scores for students.

Why this topic? cont.

School/Classroom Standards

I. Patterns of Engagement

II. Student Achievement

VII. Affirmation of Performance

IX. Affiliation

Course Passing Rates 2011-2012Algebra I

Teacher One - 87%• Four classes of regular Algebra I

Teacher Two - 75%• Two classes of regular Algebra I

and one class of inclusion Algebra I

Course Passing Rates 2012-2013 (Fall)

Algebra I

Teacher One - 100%• One class of regular Algebra I

Teacher Two - 76%• Two classes of regular Algebra I

Comparison of Course Pass Rates

Teacher 1 Teacher 2

87%75%

100%

76%

Algebra I - 2011-12 Algebra I - 2012-13

The Kagan Claim

Kagan Publishing and Professional Development is all about engagement!

Teachers, schools, and districts use Kagan Structures to increase academic achievement, improve ethnic relations, enhance self-esteem, create a more harmonious classroom climate, reduce discipline problems, and develop students' social skills and character virtues.

What NHS students thoughtWe surveyed students who took Algebra I first semester from teachers who were using Kagan cooperative learning structures to find out: which structure they liked the most which structure they liked the least which structures helped in other classes do they learn better cooperatively or

individually or both

Which cooperative learning structure did you like most?

Fan and Pick Find Someone

Who Has Pairs Check Quiz Quiz Trade Rally Coach

Rally Robin Sage and Scribe Simultaneous

Round Table Stir the Class Traveling Heads

Sage & Scribe

Simul-taneous Round Table

Traveling Heads

Stir the Class

Fan & Pick

Pairs Check

Rally Coach

Rally Robin

Quiz Quiz Trade

Find Someone Who Has

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Simultaneous Roundtable

Stir the Class Pairs Check Rally Robin

Find Someone Who Has

Structures Liked the Most

Traveling Heads Students liked Traveling Heads the best

because: You do the problem on your own but still

work with a group You get to walk around It allows you to interact with other people

and see their structures and ways of learning

It makes me understand more If I have something wrong people can tell

me why

Stir the ClassStir the Class was a close second. Students like Stir the Class because: It’s fun to move around You get to see new ways to work the

problem You get to see if everyone else has the

same answer you do

Which cooperative learning structure did you like the least?

Fan and Pick Find Someone

Who Has Pairs Check Quiz Quiz Trade Rally Coach

Rally Robin Sage and Scribe Simultaneous

Round Table Stir the Class Traveling Heads

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Sage & Scribe TravelingHeads

Fan & Pick Rally Coach Quiz QuizTrade

Simultaneous Roundtable

Stir the Class Pairs Check Rally Robin Find Someone Who Has

Structures Liked the Least

Sage and ScribeStudents like Sage and Scribe the least

because: It gets confusing with someone telling you

what to do and you have to rely on your partner

Some people don’t know what they’re talking about

I don’t get to work the problem out first, I have to do what my partner says

I don’t get to move and talk it out with others

Simultaneous Round Table

Simultaneous Round Table was the

second least favorite because: You’re only doing one step of the problem It’s confusing My group tries to help but I still don’t get it It’s annoying

Would cooperative learning structures help you learn better in other classes?

Yes74%

No26%

Chart Title

Why Cooperative Learning would help in other classes: Makes it easier to learn If I don’t understand, someone can help me

and if they don’t understand, I can help them You get to build social skills while you learn It wouldn’t be as boring You get to see other people’s point of view Hands on and helpful when someone

explains It challenges us and makes learning fun

Do you feel you learn math better cooperatively or individually?

Cooperatively39%

Individually37%

Both24%

Chart Title

Why I learn math better cooperatively

People can help if you don’t understand

I like working with others It’s not boring Students understand you the most We get better grades because we

learn from each other’s mistakes Someone can explain it to you

Why I learn math better individually I can focus more It is how I’ve learned for years I would rather take notes and refer to them I understand more Some people explain it to me wrong I get to do all the work which makes me

understand it It’s quiet

Why I learn math both cooperatively and individually I like to work together but I need to try it on

my own to make sure I’ve got it I like to work with others, but I can work

faster alone You can learn it for yourself but then have

help from your classmates

Teacher Point of View Two Algebra I teachers were sent to

Florida for professional development in using Kagan cooperative learning structures for teaching Algebra I.

Both teachers implemented these structures during first semester. Both were surveyed at the end of the semester.

From your Kagan training, which cooperative learning structure have you used the most in your classroom?

Teacher OneSage & Scribe and Traveling Heads

Teacher TwoSimultaneous Round Table

Which cooperative learning structure do you feel engages your students the most?

Teacher One• Sage & Scribe and Traveling Heads

Teacher Two• Simultaneous Round Table

Has the implementation of Kagan cooperative learning structures in your classroom been effective?

Teacher One Yes - My students are engaged and I have very little

discipline problems. Also, my failure rate has decreased and test scores appear to be good.

Teacher Two Yes - I have a lot less behavior issues and the

students seem to enjoy class more. Overall success rates of my students’ understanding of the concepts has increased.

Has the implementation of cooperative learning structures changed your approach to teaching math? In what way?

Teacher OneYes - My class is more student centered

where I am the facilitator. Teacher Two

Yes - My math interactions with the students is substantially increased

General Conclusion

Kagan cooperative learning structures have been effective in raising engagement and achievement in Algebra I.

Both teachers and students expressed increased understanding of concepts and increased engagement.

Next Steps Share survey results with teachers Work with teachers on implementing

new or more of the liked structures and less of the least liked

Assist teachers in incorporating BYOD for surveys using PollEverywhere to get feedback immediately to assess the level of engagement with the structures

Resources Cooperative Learning: Frequent

Questions Kagan Structures and High School

Algebra Kagan

Structures Research and Rationale Articles

Link to presentation online

Q & A Time

Questions?What could we clarify for you?

Compliments?What will you take away from this?

Suggestions?What could we do to improve our results?

Thank you!