Learning Teams: the Empath’s Tale

The topic formerly known as cooperative learning. And other things. We were talking about materials for parents. And we have previous research on materials for cooperative study. Now we are thinking about materials for workshops by paraprofessionals (counselors, tutors).

How different are these materials? Different in content, but they might be similar in their construction principles. The are all about interaction with other people. I can think of a few principles that apply at that level of abstraction.

Working on a shared goal.
Contributions from each are seen as necessary by all.
A group can find more ideas than most individuals.
Social approval is a form of reinforcement.
Social approval for contributions to the group will increase efforts to contribute.
Group maintenance roles are as important as task roles.
The skill in group maintenance roles is not only in execution, but in timing.
Teamwork has an advantage when the task requires breadth of skills or breadth of experience.
Team interaction can provide motivation and incentives for effort.
(more TBD)

Putting some of these ideas together, I used Team Study as one of the Energizers in the Study Skills Ratem page.
http://www.thinkerer.org/Studying/StudySkillsRatem.htm

Now I am looking for scenarios that will work with team study. Here are some preliminary examples.

Games
Charades: Pick a Recalling Card. Act out the answer, others guess the question.

Drama
One person: Lecture the team about a topic. Be as pompous as you can. Keep a straight face.

Brainstorm
List the ten most likely questions on the test
List the ten least likely answers on the test.
List the ten worst answers that might be on the test.
List the ten funniest answers that might be on the test.
Find similarities, pick the best. .
Find narratives, put them together.
Take the baddest of the badlands. Work up two plans to beat the bad out of it.