AP CSP Day 3 - Effective Collaboration Techniques
AP CSP Day 3 - Effective Collaboration Techniques
Course Information
- Course: AP Computer Science Principles
- Unit: Big Idea 1 - Creative Development (CRD)
- Lesson: Day 3 (50 minutes)
- Learning Objective: CRD-1.C - Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills during collaboration
Learning Objectives
Primary Goals
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective communication during collaboration
- Identify and apply conflict resolution strategies
- Use appropriate collaboration tools effectively
- Reflect on their own collaboration effectiveness
AP Exam Alignment
- Big Idea 1: Creative Development (10-13% of AP Exam)
- Essential Knowledge: CRD-1.C.1, CRD-1.C.2, CRD-1.C.3
- Computational Thinking Practice: 1.A - Investigate the situation, context, or task
Lesson Structure (50 minutes)
Opening Hook (10 minutes)
3.1 Welcome & Lesson Preview (5 minutes)
Teacher Activities:
- Welcome students to Day 3
- Review previous lesson's key concepts
- Introduce today's focus on effective collaboration techniques
Student Activities:
- Review previous lesson's materials
- Think about: "What makes collaboration successful?"
3.2 Quick Collaboration Challenge (5 minutes)
Activity: "Silent App Design"
Instructions:
- Groups of 4-6 students
- One person knows the secret app purpose
- No talking allowed
- Rotate leadership every 5 minutes
- Final step: guess the app purpose
Purpose: Activate collaboration thinking
Core Content Instruction (20 minutes)
4.1 Effective Communication in Collaboration (10 minutes)
Definition (CRD-1.C.1):
Effective communication is crucial for successful collaboration. It involves active listening, clear articulation, and timely feedback.
Key Components:
- Active listening: Understanding others' perspectives
- Clear articulation: Expressing ideas clearly
- Timely feedback: Providing constructive feedback at appropriate times
Case Study: The development of a collaborative software project
- Communication process: Meetings, documentation, code reviews
- Tools used: Slack, GitHub, Google Docs
- Outcome: Successful project completion through effective communication
4.2 Conflict Resolution Strategies (5 minutes)
Strategies:
- Open dialogue: Encourage open discussion of issues
- Compromise: Find middle ground when disagreements arise
- Mediation: Use third-party mediation if necessary
- Focus on goals: Keep the team focused on shared objectives
Purpose: Ensure smooth collaboration despite conflicts
4.3 Collaboration Tools in Practice (5 minutes)
Tools:
- Slack: For real-time communication
- GitHub: For version control and code collaboration
- Google Docs: For document collaboration
- Miro: For visual collaboration
Purpose: Support practical application of collaboration techniques
Hands-On Activity (15 minutes)
5.1 Group Project: Collaborative Innovation (15 minutes)
Activity: "Design a New Feature"
Instructions:
- Groups of 3-4 students
- Each group designs a new feature for an existing app
- Use collaboration tools
- Present the idea to the class
- Discuss how effective communication and conflict resolution were applied
Materials:
- **Whiteboard or digital collaboration tools
- **Paper and pens
- **Access to collaboration platforms
Learning Goals:
- **Practice effective communication
- **Apply conflict resolution strategies
- **Use collaboration tools effectively
- **Reflect on collaboration effectiveness
Assessment:
- **Group participation
- **Feature quality
- **Use of collaboration tools
- **Presentation clarity
Closure & Preview (5 minutes)
6.1 Key Concepts Review (2 minutes)
Today's Learning Highlights:
- ✅ Demonstrating effective communication in collaboration
- ✅ Identifying and applying conflict resolution strategies
- ✅ Using collaboration tools effectively
- ✅ Reflecting on collaboration effectiveness
AP Exam Connection:
- These concepts will appear in AP exam multiple choice questions
- Understanding effective collaboration is crucial for the Create Performance Task
6.2 Next Class Preview (3 minutes)
Day 4 Topic: "Iterative Development Process"
- Learning Objective: CRD-2.E - Develop a program using a development process
- Activity: Practicing iterative development techniques
- Homework: Think about a recent project you worked on. How could you improve your collaboration techniques?