Cooperative Learning

I think problem based learning helps engage students while giving them a purpose for learning.  I also think the best method for solving these problems in the classroom is through cooperative learning.  Cooperative learning can be used for any "big" idea, so I just chose how it might help students understand motion.  The focus question would be: What makes things move?  The big idea would be that energy imbalances cause motion.  This could be investigated through experiments such as the marble activity displayed in our resources this week.  Cooperative learning should be at the core of our instruction.  It is not, however, easy to implement in the classroom.  It takes careful planning and oogles of frontloading to help students succeed in a cooperative setting.  Used correctly, students will develop a better understanding, take ownership, reflect more, and gain necessary workplace skills for the future.  Some helpful resources I found were at:

http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/cooperative/techniques.html

http://www.jigsaw.org/steps.htm

http://www.hepg.org/hel/article/465#home