Algebra Learning Group

Mike Nevins, a math instructor at Everett College, invited Kalyn and myself to create a capture of a group on one Workshop Wednesday. This was a weekly event where people worked in groups together completing a worksheet. These five students in pre-college Elementary Algebra I volunteered to be videotaped. We converted the video to slides as we did in our other Making Learning Visible efforts.

Learning Groups are always fascinating to watch. For me, the most interesting feature is the nature of the interpersonal relationships, the way individual strengths are respected and utilized, and how glorious it is to see no one helping them. When the tasks are in their Zone of Proximal Development, the students become fully engaged.

It seems to me that if one wants to become a better teacher, recording, transcribing, and discussing what happens with fellow faculty is essential.