Kagan's Cooperative Learning Terms

Simple

Round Robin

An Oral technique. Teacher announces the topic to be shared with the team. Each team member shares with the team.

Round Table

Written Exercise. Teacher announces topic. Each team member makes a written contribution to the group's project.

Numbered Heads Together

Students huddle to make sure all can respond. A number is called. The student whose number is called responds.

4S Brainstorming

Teacher creates groups in which each member is given a brainstorming role:

• Speed Sergeant encourages rapid responses.
• Sultan of Silly encourages silly ideas.
• Synergy Guru encourages teammates to build on other ideas.
• Sergeant Support encourages all ideas.
• Secretary records ideas on paper.

Teacher announces topic as prompt to generate ideas. Prompt should be open ended with no "right" or "wrong" responses. Secretary is not to stack or hold slips with responses, buy lays them out so that they cover the table.

Complex

Jigsaw/Expert Jigsaw

Each teammate has part of the answer or a clue card. Teammates put their information cards together to solve the problem.

Expert Jigsaw Variation

One member from each team goes to a station to gather knowledge when s/he returns, the new “expert” shares knowledge with the team.

Pairs Check

Students work first as pairs with a problem, coaching and praising each other. Then each pair checks with another pair every two problems.

Same-Different

Students try to discover what is the same and different in two pictures, but neither can look at the other's picture.

Selected and reprinted with permission of Dr. S Kagan from his book, Cooperative Learning, with permission from 1.800.WEECO-OP or www.kaganonline.com