Cooperative Learning Techniques Research Articles

Impact of Secondary Students’ Content Knowledge on Their Communication Skills in Science

The expert blind spot (EBS) hypothesis implies that even some experts with a high content knowledge might have problems in science communication because they are using the structure of the content rather than their addressee’s prerequisites as an orientation. But is that also true for students? Explaining science to peers is a crucial part of cooperative learning methods such as the “jigsaw method”. Our study examined the relationship between science communication competence (SCC) and content knowledge (CK) of 10th-grade students (N = 213). Using latent class analysis, we identified two types of students with a different relationship between CK and SCC. Using path analysis, we found that the first type of 109 students primarily used their science CK as the “resource” for addressee-oriented science communication and both their SCC and their CK were correlated with each other. For the second type of 104 students (who used other resources), their CK even had a small negative effect on their SCC. Using t tests, we found that those students primarily using their CK as the resource for communication performed significantly worse in the communication test than did those students who used other resources. Using the EBS hypothesis, we suggest that students’ CK might have ambiguous effects in communication if the content structure—rather than their addressee’s prior knowledge—is used as the primary orientation for communication. We suggest that an effective use of cooperative learning techniques in classroom requires a special prior training for their science communication skills.

The Effect of Cooperative Learning on Grade 12 Learners’ Performance in Projectile Motions, South Africa

Background:The study explored the effect of cooperative learning on Grade 12 learners' performance on projectile motions.Material and methods:A quasi-experimental research design with non-equivalent control group was used. Two schools were purposively selected from Maleboho Central circuit in South Africa based on their performance in Physical Science Grade 12 results of 2011. The sample consisted of 49 learners from two schools. School A was used as the experimental group (EG) and was taught using cooperative learning technique while school B was the control group (CG) taught using traditional teaching methods. Pre- and post-tests were used to collect data. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics: arithmetic means and standard deviations; and inferential statistics: independent t-test, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Cohen’s d.Results:Results show that EG outperformed the CG suggesting that cooperative learning technique enhanced learners' performance more than the traditional teaching approach.Conclusions:Therefore, we conclude that cooperative learning improved learners performance in the EG and not the CG.

Interdisciplinary cooperative learning and rubrics for improving the learning-teaching process

The revision of the degrees to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is an opportunity to improve the education of students and guide teachers to widen actions towards skills development. The acquisition of competencies requires to integrate active teaching methodologies that allow the generation against the mere transmission of the knowledge. Also, many studies warn of the scarce transfer of knowledge in the subjects when they are considered individually. Interdisciplinary work is a valuable tool for students to make connections, establish and find answers to problem situations, and adjust their learning to a comprehensive knowledge.Taking these aspects into account, we have developed an interdisciplinary teaching innovation experience at the university through which we have incorporated the contents and skills of various subjects in order to address the process of solving economic problems. Interdisciplinarity has been worked with cooperative learning techniques. The interaction of these aspects is the reason why we have called the experience “Interdisciplinary Cooperative Learning” (ICL). Moreover, learning assessment of the experience has been made individually (hetero and peer) and group (rubrics and peer assessment).The results of the experience show several aspects: 1) The ICL methodology allows not only to learn in content but also in cross competencies. 2) The interconnection among subjects has allowed students to adjust their learning to a more comprehensive knowledge 3) The combination of a variety of teaching innovations has had a positive impact on students' motivation. iv) It has been some positive learning outcomes in students, higher than using only traditional methods, and thus, they have improved their academic results.As a conclusion, we find that this methodology of learning has a high added value in the learning process of the students.

Enhancing Willingness to Communicate through Team Building: A Marriage of Theory and Practice

<p><em>Closely related to the well-researched areas of motivation and language-learning anxiety is the area of </em><em>w</em><em>illingness </em><em>t</em><em>o </em><em>c</em><em>ommunicate (i.e., WTC). Many researchers (e.g., Clément, Dörnyei, & Noels, 1998; Liu & Jackson, 2008; MacIntyre & Doucette, 2009) have conducted studies concerning the factors surrounding learners’ willingness or unwillingness to communicate in a second language. The emphasis of such research has been on causes and not on solutions. This paper, through a study of the existing literature, examines the causes of a lack of WTC. It then argues that some well-known techniques and methodologies, by promoting team building, are well suited to enhance WTC. The paper concludes that the traditional warmup activity, the case-study method, cooperative learning techniques, and task-based learning techniques, when implemented with team building in mind, may aid in increasing WTC.</em></p><p><em><br /></em></p>

Use of Jigsaw Technique to Teach the Unit "Science within Time" in Secondary 7th Grade Social Sciences Course and Students' Views on This Technique.

The aim of this study is to apply the jigsaw technique in Social Sciences teaching and to unroll the effects of this technique on learning. The unit “Science within Time” in the secondary 7th grade Social Sciences text book was chosen for the research. It is aimed to compare the jigsaw technique with the traditional teaching method in teaching of the unit. The sampling of the research was conducted with total of 53 students, in two different classes, studying in 7th grade of a secondary school located in the Erzurum province of Turkey during 2014 to 2015 academic years. Pre-test/Post-test control group design was used as a method in the research (Karasar, 2006). A control group was formed with students randomly picked from both classes, and the rest of the students were the experimental group. While the lessons were taught to the control group using the traditional teaching method, cooperative learning technique (jigsaw technique) was used on the experimental group. The lessons were taught to the control and experimental group by the researcher. To determine prior knowledge of students’ in both groups, Prior Knowledge Test (PKT) was given, and Science within Time Achievement Test (swtAT) was administered to identify their conceptual understanding in the unit “Science within Time”. Later, Jigsaw Opinion Scale (JOS) was given to the students in the experimental group and their opinions on the implementation of jigsaw technique were identified. At the end of the research, to determine students’ achievement, swtAT was administered to all of the students (control and experimental group) again as the post-test and the same test was applied again as the retention test to examine the retention of knowledge after eleven weeks. The achievement level of students obtained from both the traditional teaching method and cooperative learning using jigsaw technique was compared with this research. When the statistical analysis of the research is examined, the achievement level of students in the unit “Science within Time”, which was taught with the jigsaw technique, has a significant difference in favor of the experimental group. Key words: Cooperative learning, Jigsaw technique, time and science, Social Sciences.

Enhancing Entry-Level Physiotherapy Student Learning in Interpreting Radiology – An Action Research Project

Purpose: In Australia, the ability to interpret orthopaedic x-rays is an entry-level skill for physiotherapists. Yet there is a paucity of evidence in the literature which details effective learning and teaching methods to optimise confidence and competence in x-ray interpretation. The aims of this study were to describe the content contained in an orthopaedic radiology module within an Australian 2-year graduate entry Master of Physiotherapy degree; approaches to learning and teaching used in this module; student satisfaction associated with this module over a 2-year period. Method: The University’s framework for quality assurance, which is based on the Plan-Implement-Review-Improve underpinned this action research project. The content of the radiology module was reviewed and feedback was gained from a student focus group and standard university course data. Data were analysed using descriptive content analysis and descriptive statistics to identify areas for improvement. Changes to the module were then developed and implemented, and the effect of these changes were evaluated using a custom-designed survey. Results: It was found that didactic methods of teaching were used in this module that encouraged surface level learning. Students reported feeling stressed during the radiology examination due to the learning tasks and assessment being disconnected, and often reported difficulty transferring knowledge into the clinical placement setting. Constructive alignment was undertaken of learning activities and assessment tasks. An additional non-compulsory tutorial was added to the radiology module, where scaffolding and cooperative learning techniques were used to teach students x-ray interpretation. Students reported that the revised curriculum increased their confidence in interpreting x-rays. Students’ competence in x-ray interpretation also increased based on a significant increase in score on their radiology examination. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study the addition of a tutorial that focused on interpretation of x-ray films to supplement radiology teaching improved entry-level physiotherapy students’ confidence and competence in interpreting x-rays and their perceived preparedness for clinical placement in a small entry-level physiotherapy cohort at a single Australian University.

PENGARUH PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN KOOPERATIF TIPE MENCARI PASANGAN TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR SISWA PADA MATA PELAJARAN BIOLOGI KELAS VIII DI MTs �AISYIYAH PALEMBANG

This research is about ?The Effect of Application Cooperative Learning Model Technique Make a Match Result Studying Biology in MTs =Aisyiyah Palembang?. Based on initial observasion of the result obtained from the value of studying biology teacher that only 40% of students who achieved the minimum completeness 70. This is a problem and need to be treated with the uses of appropriate learning strategies so that these problem can be solved. In this process of learning a lot of communication is expected to occur toward the expected activity and creativity. With that in mind it was attempted to explore the uses of a cooperative learning model technique make a match. Through cooperative learning model is expected to improve students learning outcomes. This research carried on 28 October until 1st November 2013. This study aims to determine the learning outcomes of students taught with cooperative learning technique make a match. Sampling of this study amounted to 80 people in the class VIIIA and VIIIB class as the subject of MTs =Aisyiyah Palembang. Data retrieval result by using the instrument of learning achievement test (24 items). Data analysis using t-test and obtained tcount 3.98 at 5% level and obtained ttable 1.99, then tcount> ttable, so it can be concluded taught using cooperative learning technique make a match have a significant influence on student learning outcomes eighth grade in the subject matter of biology at MTs =Aisyiyah.

The Effect of the Dicto-gloss as a Cooperative Learning Technique on EFL Learners' Self-efficacy in Writing

This study investigates the effect of Dicto-gloss as a cooperative learning technique on the perceived self-efficacy of Iranian EFL learners in writing. There were 46 Persian speaking EFL learners participated in this study. Out of 46, 23 participants were taken as the experimental group and the other 23 as the control group. They were heterogeneous due to the cooperative nature of the study. As the first phase of data collection, a self-efficacy in writing questionnaire developed by Yavuz-Erkan (2004) was administered to both groups as a pretest in order to evaluate the degree of their self-efficacy in writing. The experimental group was exposed to the Dicto-gloss technique of cooperative learning, while the control group was exposed to the traditional method of writing instruction in TEFL writing classes. After 13 sessions of treatment, the self-efficacy in writing questionnaire was reapplied to both groups as the post test. The participants' scores in the two groups were calculated and compared. The results revealed a difference between the two groups, indicating the effects of THE dicto-gloss technique of cooperative learning on self-efficacy in the writing of EFL learners.

Jigsaw 협동학습 방법을 적용한 과학수업이 학업성취도 및 창의적 인성에 미치는 효과

This study is to find out that the effect of science class applied Jigsaw cooperative learning to study achievement and Creative personality. The class section of this study is 5th grade 1 semester of science 2 chapters, `the solar system and the stars` This study has been aimed at 2 class 40 students of 5th grade in D metropolitan city G elementary school in 2015, one class 20 students are the research group to apply science class using a Jigsaw cooperative learning techniques, another class 20 students were comparison groups to apply general science classes. Research result and conclusion obtained through the discussion are as follows. First, science class using Jigsaw cooperative learning technique was not effective. Even though the science class with jigsaw cooperation education could not achieve the beneficial academic achievement, which is the cognition factor, when it comes to precedent study, the definition factors such as teamwork, consideration and readership show great effects. Second, science class using Jigsaw cooperative learning technique was effective in cultivating creative personality. This can be interpreted that the science class applied the jigsaw cooperation study help the creativity development. Third, after the science class applied jigsaw cooperation study, the students` perceptions also have changed in positive way. They were tend to care each other and cooperate with others. That means the class is good way to cultivate collective intelligence, which is a virtue of community.

Investigating the Effects of Group Investigation (GI) and Cooperative Integrated Reading and Comprehension (CIRC) as the Cooperative Learning Techniques on Learner's Reading Comprehension

Cooperative learning consists of some techniques for helping students work together more effectively. This study investigated the effects of Group Investigation (GI) and Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) as cooperative learning techniques on Iranian EFL learners’ reading comprehension at an intermediate level. The participants of the study were 207 male students who studied at an intermediate level at ILI. The participants were randomly assigned into three equal groups: one control group and two experimental groups. The control group was instructed via conventional technique following an individualistic instructional approach. One experimental group received GI technique. The other experimental group received CIRC technique. The findings showed that there was a meaningful difference between the mean of the reading comprehension score of GI experimental group and CRIC experimental group. CRIC technique is more effective than GI technique in enhancing the reading comprehension test scores of students.

Educational Project to Improve Problem-Based Learning in Architectural Construction Courses Using Active and Co-operative Techniques

This article presents a Project for Teaching Innovation (PTI) for the improvement of teaching practices in the Construction 1 course at the Architecture School of Barcelona (ETSAB). Since the 1980s this course has successfully made use of Problem-Basic Learning (PBL); however over the last ten years, various learning problems have arisen and become endemic. This PTI has been designed and implemented with the intention of solving this situation, and has been evaluated to determine the viability of its application. This design has been developed by the teaching team and assessed by experts from the University, which has consisted of drawing up strategies for improving each one of the identified problems. These strategies consist of incorporating new activities, and active and co-operative learning techniques. For the purposes of evaluation, indicators were designed to control the functioning of each strategy, to collect and analyse data for each indicator, and to draw conclusions. To summarise, this project has provided a means to start resolving the problems faced by the Construction 1 PBL and, at the same time, has created knowledge about the success of the techniques, activities and indicators used in this PTI which may be of use to future teaching projects.

Using the Jigsaw Technique to Teach Clinical Controversy in a Clinical Skills Course

To evaluate the effectiveness and student perception of the jigsaw technique to engage students in a clinical controversy exercise and to assess student engagement level during each step of the process. Students were assigned individual readings pertaining to the controversy surrounding the drug oxybutynin switching from prescription to nonprescription. They met with an expert group and teaching groups during mandatory laboratory time and worked together to formulate a recommendation on the appropriateness of nonprescription conversion for a drug. A quiz taken individually was used to measure effectiveness. Student perception and level of engagement was assessed using surveys. The jigsaw technique was successful in teaching the concepts involved in the clinical controversy. Group members rated themselves and fellow participants' level of engagement as high during both the expert group and teaching group sessions. Most students reported they learned about the same or more with the jigsaw technique compared to another cooperative learning technique used in the curriculum.

Academic Controversy In Macroeconomics: An Active And Collaborative Method To Increase Student Learning

The literature indicates that there is a lack of learning outcomes in economics that can be attributed to the reliance on traditional lecture and the failure to adopt innovative instructional techniques. This study sought to investigate the student learning effects of academic controversy, a cooperative learning technique that shows promise in the area of economics instruction. A quasiexperimental pre-test, posttest design was used to compare a control group which received traditional lecture to a treatment group which received academic controversy lessons. Analysis of the data from the Test of Understanding in College Economics post-test suggests that the use of academic controversy had a positive impact on student learning. Implications of the study include providing a framework for academic controversy which shows promise for improving student learning in post-secondary macroeconomics.

Cooperative Integrated Reading Composition (Circ): Improving Achievement in English Writing Composition Among Seventh Graders

Cooperative learning strategies have occupied a prominent place among language learning methodologies. t his study quantitatively validates the effect of the Cooperative Learning approach-Cooperative Integrated Reading Composition (CIRC) on the Writing Composition achievement in English among seventh graders. Cooperative Learning was compared with conventional teaching-learning classroom structure using an experimental design. 140 students of seventh class were randomly selected out of which 70 students formed Experimental Group (E) and 70 students formed Control Group (C). Writing Composition achievement test in English and Instructional Material were developed by the investigators themselves. Whole teaching-learning process was carried out for eight weeks only. at the end of the experiment, Writing Composition achievement test in English was given to the subjects. Data were analyzed by using the t-test. the findings revealed that Experimental Group outscored significantly Control Group on post-test showing the obvious supremacy of Co-operative Learning technique (CIRC) over Conventional Method of teaching. It was concluded that co-operative learning is an effective approach which needs to be incorporated in teaching Writing Composition to improve writing skill.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USE THE KANJI CARDS IN KANJI SHOKYU LEARNING

Japanese character (hiragana, katakana, kanji, and romaji) is difficult for the students who learn Japanese as a foreign language, especially the kanji. Kanji has stroke order, and also Chinese and Japanese ways of reading. Moreover one character of kanji is presenting one meaning, thus the amount of kanji is massive. The informal interview conduct in some students on Semarang State University, Japanese Department, 2 semester, reveal that they got problems in memorizing the meaning and also the ways of reading and writing kanji. The reasons are there are too many kanji character and kanji compound they had to memorize in a short time during the class. It was not easy for them to memorize all the kanji. It was like memorizing the new vocabulary. Some words they didn’t familiar with will cause any further problems such as they didn’t know how to apply it into the sentence. Sometimes they ask the teacher, sometimes they didn’t. If they ask to the peer, they didn’t get the answer because the peer didn’t know either. Actually, the text book they use has reading and writing practice sections which is enough and proper to learn by themselves. But sometimes students need to make they own sentences in order to make their memory of kanji more lasting. Since the students admitted that they lacks of practice making sentences themselves nor with their peer, inside or outside the class, therefore, we conducted an quasi experiment in a class, using roundtable cooperative learning technique combine with kanji card in order to overcome the student’s problems mentioned above. This technique encourages students to: produce sentences which using the memorized kanji, working together in groups, students feel fun in learning kanji. nd But, this technique not quite suitable if we conduct it in a large class.

Increasing Teachers' Confidence and Pedagogical Content Knowledge Through a Workshop and Follow-Up Program on Climate Change

ABSTRACT An Earth science professional-development program for in-service middle- and high-school teachers increased participants' content knowledge about weather, climate, and climate change in addition to increasing their confidence in their assessment and teaching skills. The curriculum and funding gave them time, funding, and the help of content and pedagogic experts to build and test new lesson plans on these topics. During the summer workshop, the teachers participated in field trips, hands-on laboratory experiences, and cooperative inquiry projects. They studied weather and mechanisms that determine climate during the first week. The second week focused on geologic time and changes in the Earth system that drive climate changes on long timescales. The major topic for the third week was anthropogenic climate change. During the workshop, the teachers designed lesson plans for multiday units on workshop topics. The teachers took a content pretest at the start of the summer workshop and a post-test at the end. Their average score increased from 38.1% to 75.6%. The follow-up program included three meetings and two classroom visits by a veteran teacher during the subsequent school year. The participants taught their lesson plans and administered pre- and post-tests that they had designed to their own students. Their class scores showed normalized gains ranging from 16% to 88%. Surveys taken at the beginning of the summer workshop and the end of the follow-up program indicated an average increase in their confidence of their ability to teach science and in their willingness to employ hands-on, cooperative, and inquiry learning techniques in their classrooms.

Analysis of EFL Teaching Methods for Taiwan University Students

This study looks into three outstanding EFL teachers’ classrooms in a Taiwan university setting using teachers’ syllabi, questionnaire surveys, interviews with students and teachers, and evidence of students’ improvements in English proficiency. The teaching methods have proven to be effective in achieving results and are appreciated by the teachers’ students. Their teaching methods adopted in the classrooms were analyzed and identified. A paired t-test was used to examine the students’ improvement between a pre-MEPT proficiency test and a post-MEPT proficiency test. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gain insight into the students’ perceptions of learning experiences. The teachers were also observed and interviewed about what methods and how they utilized to help students learn. The study found that (1) classroom teaching is not attributed to a single superior method; (2) cooperative learning techniques of Communicative Language Teaching and Cooperative Learning methods combined with traditional Grammar-Translation teaching instruction worked effectively for university students; learning tends to take place when students are willing to actively participate in learning activities which might be something new or challenging to them; (3) the paired t-tests proved that the students of all three teachers made statistically significant improvement in overall performance over students in the Freshman English classes.

Effectiveness of Cooperative Learning in Enhancing Speaking Skills and Attitudes towards Learning English

This study investigates the effectiveness of cooperative learning in English language classrooms to enhance Yemeni students’ speaking skills and attitudes. A quasi-experimental interrupted time series design was used with sixty undergraduates enrolled in the foundation English programme at Hadhramout University, Yemen. The data of the current study were gathered at multiple points of time before and after the end of the experiment to determine the effectiveness of cooperative learning on the sample’s speaking skills and attitudes. In practical terms, the sample’s speaking skills were first examined through an English oral test prior to and after some cooperative learning instructional activities were provided. Next, a five Likert scale- questionnaire was administered to the sample before and at the end of the course to identify students’ attitudes towards the use of cooperative learning in English classes. The data were analyzed using basic and inferential statistical methods including mean scores, standard deviations, paired sample t-test, and effect size. The findings showed a remarkable development in the students’ speaking skills and attitudes after the introduction of cooperative learning techniques. In light of the findings, the researchers recommend that teachers should benefit from applying CL in English classes, which may in turn develop students’ speaking skills and attitudes.

The Organization of Cooperative Work in Teacher Training Degrees as a Tool for the Competence of Employability

The professional opportunities for Teacher training comprise not only teaching in preschools and elementary schools. Given the current social circumstances it stands to reason that employment in other occupational fields will progressively increase. This circumstance means that we should think about increasing the use of versatile working tools such as cooperative learning techniques for the training of future graduates. These methods enable work on different aspects and fields of knowledge and stimulate employability related skills which are important because they are attractive to employers and allow graduates to maintain an active attitude towards the demands of the labor market.

The Effect of Cooperative Learning Activities on Writing Skills of Iranian EFL Learners

Recent trends in second and foreign language pedagogy reflect a shift of focus from traditional teacher-dominated classes to more learner-centered contexts. Cooperative learning as opposed to individualistic and competitive learning, has been proclaimed as an effective and fruitful teaching method to improve the learner’s linguistic, social and communicative competence. Cooperative learning requires learners to work together in groups to achieve a common goal and have the same measure of success. Maximizing the opportunities for student-student interaction with meaningful input and output in a supportive environment, cooperative learning has been confirmed as a desirable method for teaching all language elements. This study has investigated the impact of cooperative learning through Learning Together Model, proposed by Johnson and Johnson in 1987, on the writing skills of Iranian EFL learners. Thirty learners who were selected based on their English proficiency scores participated in this study. They were divided into two groups of experimental and control that took a pre-test and post-test in writing. The results of comparing their pre-test with their post-test scores indicated statistically significant differences between the control and experimental groups on the dependent variable and lent empirical support to the language teachers using cooperative learning as their teaching system. Some pedagogical implications can be offered as the results of the study. Language teachers by using cooperative learning techniques can create an enjoyable class of maximized participation and outcome. EFL learners in a cooperative learning environment, explore the language knowledge that they want to master.