Lathrop, A. H. & Murray, N. R. (2002). Collaborative learning in educational gymnastics: Strategies for success. Physical Health Education Journal, 68(2), 20-27.
ARTICLE SUMMARY
• Enough opportunities for skill development should be provided so that students can effectively work alone, in pairs, or in small or large groups both with and without the use of apparatus, to foster their confidence and ability to successfully contribute to group work (Lathrop & Murray, 2002).
• The environment should provide opportunities for problem solving, listening, accommodating, negotiating, and analyzing (Lathrop & Murray, 2002).
• To foster meaning and productivity during group work, individuals should participate with self-confidence, autonomy, and the…show more content… Therefore it is important to establish some sort of familiarity and responsiveness before working in pairs or groups. Trust and confidence are vital during negotiation of ideas, support of one another, and balance. Members are mutually dependent for their physical safety and timing (Sherborne, 1990 as cited Lathrop & Murray, 2002).
• It is also important to cultivate interpersonal (honesty, responsibility, respect, cooperation, compromise) and communication skills (trading ideas, solving conflicts, and problem solving) (Deline, 1991; Tomme & Wendt, 1993 as cited in Lathrop & Murray,…show more content… This aids in planning, analysis, and assessment of performances of movement (Underwood & Williams, 1991; Williams, 1997 as cited in Lathrop & Murray, 2002).
• It is important to present the thematic content of educational gymnastics progressively to enhance their skill development and cognitive understanding. Work must start from individual to partner, then to small group work. Similarly floor work goes before the use of small and large equipment (Lathrop & Murray, 2002).
• Both teacher-centered and student-centered methods of evaluation are also valued which will not only provide feedback to the students but also help the teacher determine whether all group members provided equal contribution (Lathrop & Murray, 2002).
Identify the assessment or evaluation strategies (formative/summative) and attach your tool/strategy to the assignment *This assessment could be for your warm-up or for an activity/lesson you would suggest would occur after/during the unit.
