Course Title: Cooperative Teaching and Learning

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Cooperative Teaching and Learning

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
TCHE2119	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2009

Course Coordinator: Tony Owens

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7803

Course Coordinator Email:tony.owens@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

What is this course about?

This course provides skill training in democratic and cooperative practices within classrooms. Skills learned are based on Alfred Adler’s Theory of Individual Psychology particularly as applied in education by Rudolf Dreikurs and complemented by William Glasser’s writings. The texts chosen take the perspective of the classroom although skills are pertinent to all group contexts.
During the course students develop a basic awareness of, and responsibility for their own behaviour. Assessment is based on weekly accounts of skill practice with all skill attempts being valued equally. Learning takes place through explanation and demonstration, student practice in interdependent groups, becoming aware of sharing one’s own and others’ emotions and personal and group reflection on learning experiences. During the course students will develop skills in understanding themselves as a well as student motivation, encouragement, facilitation of communication and problem solving, how to apply natural and fair consequences for behaviour and methods of enhancing self esteem and group belonging for all through positive and empowering leadership skills.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Graduate Capabilities
• Social responsibility
• Empowering leadership skill
• Encouragement
• Active participation
• Self responsibility
• Problem solving
• Emotionally aware
• Reflection

What can I expect to learn by studying this course?

On completion of this course, you will have developed the skills needed to begin setting up a cooperative democratic classroom. You will:
• Understand what motivates student behaviour
• Discover your effective and ineffective behaviours as a teacher.
• Use encouragement in all interactions with students.
• Communicate with students through reflective listening
• Communicate with students through “I” messages.
• Identify who owns the problem, teacher or student.
• Communicate through problem solving conferences.
• Negotiate discipline with students as a fair and positive learning process
• Use democratic & respectful group leadership skills
• Use empowering leadership skills in classroom meetings as a fair, democratic & cooperative process

Overview of Learning Activities

What opportunities does the course provide for me to learn? What will I be expected to do?

This course uses a combination of learning methods. In all classroom meetings an effort will be made to provide an opportunity for students to access an appropriate mental state for learning. Barbara Given’s brain based model of natural learning systems is used as a basis for learning experiences. Examples will include:

• Skill demonstration in lecture & tutorial
• Skill practice in lecture & tutorial
• Lectures
• Tutorial discussions
• Readings
• Self directed research
• Practical experience
• Video materials
• Case studies
• Written work

Overview of Learning Resources

Text based resources are identified to encompass required, recommended and related readings.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course includes recording your reflective thinking and learning, report writing and successful participation in Professional Practice and its related coursework.