News from Secondary Principal Craig Randall
Dear Parents,
I would like to introduce something new in the Secondary School today:
Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures
In the secondary school we have recently begun some training workshops, discussions and teacher learning on Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures. These cooperative structures provide one of the most powerful ways to improve student achievement and work well used in any course or age group student. All of our teachers are beginning to try to use these in some of their lessons. The feedback so far has been fantastic. Some students have said it is the best thing they have done so far this year.
Figuring you might have some questions about Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures, we pose and answer the following:
What is Cooperative Learning?
Cooperative learning is a style of learning where students work together in small teams. They rely on and support each other in the learning process. Every student is held accountable for doing their share of the work, the learning and the teaching of their peers. The structures ensure equal participation and chances to answer and contribute by all members of the group and class. Cooperative learning also ensures that all students are simultaneously involved in either giving a response/answer of listening intently to a response/answer.
What are cooperative learning structures?
Cooperative learning structures are activities, usually fairly short in duration, performed usually in pairs or groups of four, designed to actively involve all students in their learning and to improve their achievement.
What does the research say about cooperative learning?
Brain research on learning shows that we learn best through social interaction. This means we learn best when we talk to others about our learning. The reason is that when we talk about our learning we are actively engaging more areas of the brain than in any other method of learning. The more areas engaged the more the learning embeds itself in our brains. Meta studies totaling nearly one-thousand different studies show students on average show achievement gains of 25% when cooperative learning is used regularly and properly.
Why are the students frequently teaching each other?
Research on retention of knowledge shows the highest retention occurs when we teach others. As the pyramid chart shows, there is a 90% retention rate when we teach each other.
I would like to introduce something new in the Secondary School today:
Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures
In the secondary school we have recently begun some training workshops, discussions and teacher learning on Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures. These cooperative structures provide one of the most powerful ways to improve student achievement and work well used in any course or age group student. All of our teachers are beginning to try to use these in some of their lessons. The feedback so far has been fantastic. Some students have said it is the best thing they have done so far this year.
Figuring you might have some questions about Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures, we pose and answer the following:
What is Cooperative Learning?
Cooperative learning is a style of learning where students work together in small teams. They rely on and support each other in the learning process. Every student is held accountable for doing their share of the work, the learning and the teaching of their peers. The structures ensure equal participation and chances to answer and contribute by all members of the group and class. Cooperative learning also ensures that all students are simultaneously involved in either giving a response/answer of listening intently to a response/answer.
What are cooperative learning structures?
Cooperative learning structures are activities, usually fairly short in duration, performed usually in pairs or groups of four, designed to actively involve all students in their learning and to improve their achievement.
What does the research say about cooperative learning?
Brain research on learning shows that we learn best through social interaction. This means we learn best when we talk to others about our learning. The reason is that when we talk about our learning we are actively engaging more areas of the brain than in any other method of learning. The more areas engaged the more the learning embeds itself in our brains. Meta studies totaling nearly one-thousand different studies show students on average show achievement gains of 25% when cooperative learning is used regularly and properly.
Why are the students frequently teaching each other?
Research on retention of knowledge shows the highest retention occurs when we teach others. As the pyramid chart shows, there is a 90% retention rate when we teach each other.
Students also learn improved social skills through all the peer interaction they do in cooperative learning structure. With the work world model being centered more and more on cooperative work shouldn’t our teaching and learning begin to center on cooperative learning too? I sure think so!
On a separate note, I would like to thank all those that spoke with me today at the "In Touch with Dr. Miner" coffee session this afternoon. I was pleased to hear lots of positive feedback as well as areas we can improve upon in Secondary. Together we will move forward to continually improve academic quality. Thanks for your input.
Warm Regards
Craig Randall
On a separate note, I would like to thank all those that spoke with me today at the "In Touch with Dr. Miner" coffee session this afternoon. I was pleased to hear lots of positive feedback as well as areas we can improve upon in Secondary. Together we will move forward to continually improve academic quality. Thanks for your input.
Warm Regards
Craig Randall
College Counseling News
College Lingo Part 2: College vs. University
In the United States, "college" and "university" are very often used interchangeably and this sometimes causes confusion.
The Difference Between a College and a University
Becker College
In a global context, the words “college” and “university” can inspire confusion. Different countries use the same words to name different things. What is usually called a “college” in Europe is really more like the two-year institution called a “community college” in the United States.
How they are essentially the same:
While many factors affect the quality of an institution, the same type of baccalaureate, or bachelor's, degrees can be conferred by both colleges and universities. Admission requirements differ only according to selectivity; highly ranked colleges are often more selective than universities. Both colleges and universities can be either privately or publicly operated. The phrase “going to college” is used to mean attending any college or university in the United States.
How they differ:
Colleges tend to be smaller, with smaller class sizes, and students receive more personal attention from faculty. Universities offer master’s and doctoral degrees which require completion of the bachelor’s degree first. Universities tend to be larger, with faculty time and attention divided between research and teaching. Some large universities will have divisions named “The College of Liberal Arts” or the “College of Engineering.”
Neither term should be considered significant in assessing the quality or stature of an institution. One is not better than the other - they both offer four-year bachelor degrees.
Fall College Visits
NOVEMBER
3rd – American University Sharjah, UAE, 9:15am
4th – Gulf International University Tour, USA and International, 9:15am
16th – Vassar College & Grinnell College, USA, 1:30pm
17th – Queen’s University, Canada, 12:00pm
19th – Bennington College & Wartburg College, USA, 9:15am
24th – Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, UAE, 9:15am
College Lingo Part 2: College vs. University
In the United States, "college" and "university" are very often used interchangeably and this sometimes causes confusion.
The Difference Between a College and a University
Becker College
In a global context, the words “college” and “university” can inspire confusion. Different countries use the same words to name different things. What is usually called a “college” in Europe is really more like the two-year institution called a “community college” in the United States.
How they are essentially the same:
While many factors affect the quality of an institution, the same type of baccalaureate, or bachelor's, degrees can be conferred by both colleges and universities. Admission requirements differ only according to selectivity; highly ranked colleges are often more selective than universities. Both colleges and universities can be either privately or publicly operated. The phrase “going to college” is used to mean attending any college or university in the United States.
How they differ:
Colleges tend to be smaller, with smaller class sizes, and students receive more personal attention from faculty. Universities offer master’s and doctoral degrees which require completion of the bachelor’s degree first. Universities tend to be larger, with faculty time and attention divided between research and teaching. Some large universities will have divisions named “The College of Liberal Arts” or the “College of Engineering.”
Neither term should be considered significant in assessing the quality or stature of an institution. One is not better than the other - they both offer four-year bachelor degrees.
Fall College Visits
NOVEMBER
3rd – American University Sharjah, UAE, 9:15am
4th – Gulf International University Tour, USA and International, 9:15am
16th – Vassar College & Grinnell College, USA, 1:30pm
17th – Queen’s University, Canada, 12:00pm
19th – Bennington College & Wartburg College, USA, 9:15am
24th – Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, UAE, 9:15am
Uniform Update
Now that winter is upon us, please make sure that your child/children have the correct sweaters. We will announce this to all students on Sunday and from Wednesday, any students wearing incorrect tops will be asked to remove them.
Now that winter is upon us, please make sure that your child/children have the correct sweaters. We will announce this to all students on Sunday and from Wednesday, any students wearing incorrect tops will be asked to remove them.
Wildcats take 1st place in Division Tournament
Last weekend, the GAA U14 Girls Volleyball team took first place in their EAC Division 2 tournament at AISA. After losing the first set, they won the next two to beat Dubai International Academy in the championship game. Everyone played great and showed so much improvement over the course of the season (and had a lot of fun!). A special thank you to all the parents who came out to support the team!
Here is our Community and Secondary School Calendar - Scroll through the months to see what's planned for this year at GAA
Please make sure you check this calendar regularly for updates and new events