What are the effects of collaborative learning on student curricular achievement?

Eric Cagle


Seminar Title


What are the effects of collaborative learning on student curricular achievement?


Concept/Strategy

Focus of the Research


Collaborative learning


Grade Level

Research Was Applied


7th Grade


Relevant Grade Level

Connections


Middle School


Discipline

Where Research Was Applied


Science


Additional Discipline Areas

I see Application to


All Disciplines


Invitation/Commercial


I always get stuck with all the work! Why do we have to work in groups? These statements have always made me question whether or not the group work I was doing in my classroom was having a positive impact on my students learning. That is why I was determined to make collaboration more meaningful and fun for my students. Grouping and collaboration is used throughout education and life, having these collaborative skills and learning how to collaborate is one way to aid our students for the present and future. In my research I found students really thrived while working with others after having learned and practiced collaborative skills, which they could then apply. IF your contemplating how to make group work more beneficial come and share ideas and strategies that you can apply immediately.


Abstract


My action research was based on the idea that in today's classrooms, teachers are using grouping with curriculum that isn’t written to challenge students thinking or creativity, it is written for groups to be able to instantly access information. Most of which they have either memorized tor can easily find meaning the only group interactions they are actually using isn’t applying knowledge but rather gathering information. I wanted to see if more purposeful and truly cooperative learning would increase student achievement. The literature suggested that with a true need for collaboration, student also need skills to help them while collaborating, to be successful. Making teaching collaboration skills a big part of any group project. Specific areas I changed in my own teaching before using groups, included collaborative skill training for my students including self-awareness, empathy and communication between peers. Meaning I needed to research, have and use different activities to build these skills as well as provide students the opportunity to actually use these skills before just putting them in groups and giving them a project. To foster these skills and promote more true collaboration I started implementing specific skills and practice into each and every group activity as an introduction to the new group, and its members. Either simple or complex these activities worked to help build community in the groups. In this research I learned how to incorporate more collaboration specific skill into my classroom and to develop activities in that work to increase student collaboration and reliance on each others unique skills. With this I was able to increase group production with the side effect of decreasing poor behavior in the classroom. Ultimately I found the group work had a positive impact on student test scores and overall student grades. It was also clear that I needed to allow more time for me to check overall group understanding of the tasks, as they became so good at splitting up the workload and or working through issues that they didn’t necessarily understand the assignments or come to the right conclusions. Due to the efficiency of the students after the implementation of these collaborative skills, I would like to continue to research and implement more effective students guided teacher conferences during the group projects, so as to help students clarify the expectations and also increase overall understanding.