Are three minds better than one?: The impact of group work on student achievement.

摘要

Research question. What is the impact of group work on student achievement? (1) What are students' beliefs and attitudes about group work towards learning? (2) What is the effect of group work on students' engagement in class? (3) What is the effect of group work on students' performance in science?;Research activities. This research examined how group work influences students' understanding of science. Student's beliefs and attitudes towards group work were also examined throughout the intervention. This was done through analyzing student attitudinal surveys and achievement data. Context. This study took place in a high school biology class of 32 students located in a large suburban city. The intervention occurred over the course of three units covering Genetics during which half of the topics were conducted with individual activities and the other half through group activities. Methods and data. The study began with an attitudinal survey that asked students if they felt they learned and retained the most information while working individually or in a group setting. The intervention consisted of students working in triads throughout the study. Student work, attitudes, engagement, and test scores were compared between the two different settings (group activities and individual activities). Results. Overall, the class performed better on tests that covered topics in which students worked individually. The students reported that they were slightly more engaged while working on individual assignments. The findings from the student attitude survey showed that most students felt they learned and retained the most when working with their group. However, the findings also showed some students were very opposed to group work and felt they benefited the most from individual work. Students reported that they were slightly more engaged while working on an individual assignment, yet they felt the group work assignments better prepared them for tests. Conclusions. Higher achieving and GATE students benefited more from individual assignments, while average and low achieving students benefited more from group work. For some students, group work perpetuated copying of incorrect information. Students performed slightly better on topics that they were more engaged in. Consistent group work improved students' attitudes towards working with others, but some students continued to prefer individual assignments.;Grade levels. Secondary;Data collection methods. Survey-Attitude, Curriculum assessment, Student work, Interviews, Observation-Student;Curriculum areas. Science - Biology;Instructional approaches. Collaboration/Teaming, Student engagement, Cooperative Learning