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Collaborative Learning Resources

At The College Preparatory School (College Prep) in Oakland, California, student collaboration happens on a daily basis, from group-centered math assignments, to student-led discussions in English. Below are documents provided by College Prep English teacher Julie Anderson and Math teacher Betsy Thomas.

English

• English classes at College Prep are conducted around a large, oval table called a
  • - Overview of Harkness Table discussion guidelines for The Odyssey, Book 7

• - Example of a tracker from a good discussion with multiple participants
• - Example of a tracker from a bad discussion with a few participants

• - Anderson's public website for students to use for their online discussions
• - Sample of online student responses. The assignment for this online discussion was to come up with three questions, one based on the text, one on a discussion question, and one on a personal question. The discussion was about Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
• - Another example of online student responses. The assignment for this online discussion was to answer one or more of the questions posed by students in the online discussion from the night before. The discussion was about Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

• Note Taking
  • - Sample of good note taking from a discussion on Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go
  • - Sample of good note taking from a discussion on Plato's Allegory of the Cave

- Handout for students when they are leading the class; includes a calendar and suggestions for the classroom, such as giving short writing assignments, making sure that everyone participates, and creating a unique way of presenting the material

Math

• - Math worksheet with coded values for the variables (For more about how these worksheets are used, read our tips for collaborative learning)
• - Template used to assign the coded values for the variables
• - Example of a group test on constructing angles, proving theorems, and finding the value of angles
• - Examples of evaluations given to students on their collaboration skills
• - Math worksheet with guiding questions on proving math theorems
• - Math worksheet with guiding questions on Eratosthenes's measurement of the earth's circumference

Additional Resources and Videos from College Prep

• - Daily bell schedule
• - Handout from a workshop on communication styles and communicating with faculty and staff
• - Parent handbook that includes general information on the school

• Below are excerpts from the handbook:
  • - Overview of philosophy of College Prep that includes respect and consideration for the rights of others, honesty, and adherence to the rules agreed upon by the community
  • - Summary of all academic information at College Prep, including the grading system and reports, graduation requirements, advance placement, and independent study
  • - Summary of community expectations including, attendance, good neighbor policy, and student appearance

• - Optional four-week summer program designed to help prepare incoming ninth grade students for College Prep
• • - Video of advice for applying to College Prep
  • - Overview of the English department at College Prep
  • - Video overview of the arts program at College Prep
  • Financial Aid at College Prep - Video overview to help understand financial aid at College Prep
  • - Video of students constructing a bridge for their sophomore history class, World Civilization

Useful Websites on Collaborative Learning

• - Organization with over 3,000 free videos on math, science, finance, economics, and humanities
• - A free interactive website with the goal of providing high-quality content
• - Website on the history of the Harkness Table
• - Website on the Harkness philosophy
• Punahou's Guidlines for Harnkenss Table - Guidelines for a Harkness discussion from Punahou School

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