Janet Baldwin

Senior Academic Staff Member, School of Teacher Education,
Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, New Zealand

Equity and Ownership through Collaboration in the Classroom

Abstract

As a teaching and learning process, cooperative learning has been used for several years in its many guises in classrooms in many parts of the world. A recent study of the use of groups in New Zealand classrooms has shown that teachers do use cooperative groups to assist children's learning. However, an analysis of the data from this study shows that the way in which groups are used does not always allow the children to develop ownership of the group process. "Ownership" is an important aspect of effective learning for all children regardless of their ethnicity, gender or ability. For classrooms to become more equity oriented, teachers must implement true collaborative programmes that can provide children with ownership and allow them to take responsibility for their own learning.

Bionote

As a senior lecturer in Teacher Education at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Janet Baldwin has a special interest in the processes of teaching and learning. She is currently completing a Doctorate in Education with a focus on how teachers use groups in their classrooms.

Presentation Type
30 min. Paper

Presentation Equipment and Other Requests
Overhead projector

Speaking Date/Time Restrictions

Country
New Zealand