Student Perspectives on a Cooperative-Learning Experience

Abstract

Last autumn, we enrolled in a marine geology course with a cooperative-learning format. In this article, we share the student's perspective of this experience. We feel that cooperative learning provided us the opportunity to develop important scientific skills while we learned marine geology. We improved our oral communication skills through daily discussions and our written communication skills through numerous written summaries of scientific readings. We refined our computer skills through the completion of various projects. Finally, we acquired valuable research skills, such as computer research and reading for understanding. We were active participants in science, rather than passive observers. The cooperative-learning experience better approximates what we will face after graduation, whether in the workplace or in graduate school.