Topic #9:
The Power of Movement, Fun & Participation (Part 2)
Academic Controversy
“What if…. YOU were only given feedback
instead of grades for your work?”
Critical Thinking to Engage Today’s Learners

Today’s Agenda:
Monday:
• 1. “What if….
• 2. Video: Academic Controversy in the Real World
• 3. Review: Cooperative Learning Structures/Tools
• 4. Collaborative Learning Instructional Strategies for Academic Controversy:
Team Analysis, Horseshoe Debate, Formal Debates, Six Thinking Caps, Value
Lines, Four Corners, Debate Dyads, Inside/Outside Circles
• 5. Graphic Organizer: Decision Making Guide (for learning activities)
• 6. Prepare for learning activities: Class Debate, and 6 Thinking Caps
• 7. Team Analysis – deBono’s six Thinking Hats: 15 Fixes to Broken Grades – Wed.
8. Formal Debate: “Be it resolved that all Middle Schools use grades as evidence
of student learning.” – Next Monday
Wednesday:
• 1. Video: The Hole in the Wall – Do we need teachers?
• 2. Four Corners: Should we give group grades to middle school students?
• 3. Horseshoe Debate: Should we allow re-dos in middle school?
• 4. Personal Self Reflection
• 5. Doing: Group Energizers/Cheers (following each team)
• 6. Wise Words of the Week
• 7. Hand back “Integrated Unit Plans”

The Power of Movement, Fun, and Participation in the Classroom:
Collaborative Learning
• What is the difference between cooperative/collaborative
learning?
• What are the essential elements of cooperative learning?
• What is PIES? What are STRUCTURES? What are some CL TOOLS?
• How does CL help address the 21st Century Learning
Competencies/Cross Curricular Competencies?

Today’s Graphic Organizers

Jigsaw
1. Two groups (Assessment
and Homework – 20
people/side)
2. Six mini groups (based on
assigned articles – groups of
3 or 4)
-summarize article/write a
1-2 sentence generalization
3. Base Groups (six people
with 1 person/article)
-each person shares
-record arguments on
decision making guide

Team Analysis
• Team Analysis – deBono’s six Thinking Hats: 15 Fixes for Broken
Grades
• Students are to view this topic from all perspectives. The
collaborative skills emphasized in this activity are disagreeing in
an agreeable way, and accepting/extending the ideas of
others.
• After hearing from each perspective, students will aim to gain
consensus as to what the recommendation is to be carried in all
middle schools (for grades/for learning, etc.)
• This will be worded as a position statement: “Be it Resolved…..”
• This activity will take approximately 30 minutes:

Other Structures:/
Collaborative Learning• Four Corners: Should we give group
grades to middle school students?
• Horseshoe Debate: Should we allow re-
dos/re-tests to middle school students?
• Processing: Personal Self Reflection
• Team Cheers/Encouragers

Debate: “Be it resolved that all Middle
Schools use grades as evidence of student learning.”
• Preparations/Brain Break
• The debate will take approximately 40
minutes as follows:
– Constructive Speeches: 10 minutes
– Discussion Period: 20 minutes
– Rebuttal: 5 minutes
– Verdict: 5 minutes
• Know and carry out your role based on the
acquired knowledge from the Jigsaw Activity

“When challenge and skills are in balance,
the activity is its own reward”
***Carol Ann Tomlinson
Wise Words of the Week
Next Week: Simulations
(Special Guests: Aspen Heights Elementary School)