Cooperative Learning in Industrial-sized Biology Classes
- 1 June 2007
- journal article
- Published by American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) in CBE—Life Sciences Education
- Vol. 6 (2), 163-171
- https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.06-11-0200
Abstract
This study examined the impact of cooperative learning activities on student achievement and attitudes in large-enrollment (>250) introductory biology classes. We found that students taught using a cooperative learning approach showed greater improvement in their knowledge of course material compared with students taught using a traditional lecture format. In addition, students viewed cooperative learning activities highly favorably. These findings suggest that encouraging students to work in small groups and improving feedback between the instructor and the students can help to improve student outcomes even in very large classes. These results should be viewed cautiously, however, until this experiment can be replicated with additional faculty. Strategies for potentially improving the impact of cooperative learning on student achievement in large courses are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
- Comparison of student performance in cooperative learning and traditional lecture‐based biochemistry classesBiochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 2005
- Scientific TeachingScience, 2004
- The Role of Metacognitive Knowledge in Learning, Teaching, and AssessingTheory Into Practice, 2002
- A Revision of Bloom's Taxonomy: An OverviewTheory Into Practice, 2002
- Student Engagement in Instructional Activity: Patterns in the Elementary, Middle, and High School YearsAmerican Educational Research Journal, 2000
- Effects of Metacognitive Training Embedded in Cooperative Settings on Mathematical Problem SolvingThe Journal of Educational Research, 1999
- Effects of Small-Group Learning on Undergraduates in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology: A Meta-AnalysisReview of Educational Research, 1999
- Cooperative Learning Returns To College What Evidence Is There That It Works?Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 1998
- An analysis of children's construction of new knowledge through their use of reasoning and arguing in classroom discussionsInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 1996
- Using Cooperative Learning in the Teaching of High School BiologyThe American Biology Teacher, 1994