Learning Through Using Shura

When we consult with each other during the learning process, we generally find that we get better results than when we work alone or compete against each other. The great majority of research performed on this topic* shows that achievement and productivity are higher in cooperative situations than in competitive or individualistic ones.

ShuraForAll encourages teachers to work with students in a team setting. Students would work together using shura to identify ways of helping each other to learn what is needed to successfully complete the requirements of a subject.

In this setting, teachers provide ongoing guidance by helping students stay on task and interacting with them in ways that encourage and support everyone’s efforts to achieve. They make it easier for students to get the most out of working with their teams.

Using the Deliver phase of the ShuraForAll tool, teachers would help student teams set learning objectives and assign action steps to team members to achieve them. A comprehensive collection of these for a variety of subject areas is provided.

Teachers would also use the tool to establish guidelines for student behavior and check progress. Students use it to set learning objectives for their teams, assign to themselves action steps they must carry out to achieve these objectives, and enter information that documents the completion of their assignments.

The ShuraForAll tool uses all the information put in it to calculate and display the performance of each individual student and each student team for each learning objective that they work toward.

Free training is provided to help teachers and students learn how to use the tool.

* David W. Johnson and Roger T. Johnson. Cooperation and Competition. Interaction Book Company, 1989.