SUPERVISOR: alieke van dijk
Topic
Collaboration (or cooperation) is a common learning method in all levels of education. Collaborative groups are formed in different ways. Students often get the chance to select their own working partners, but the teacher might also be responsible for the grouping procedure. Different tactics are used to determine group size and the group composition; often based on theory and research outcomes. However, it is not clear what the preferences of students look like and how these preferences affect (the quality of) the collaborative process.
Within this project, we will explore the preferences of students with regard to collaborative learning. Do students prefer collaborative or individual learning, and what are these preferences based upon? If students do engage in collaborative learning, what are their preferences concerning group size and group composition? What characteristics do students take into account when selecting their collaborative partners? How do these characteristics determine (the quality of) the collaborative process?
Method
In this study, we will use questionnaires/surveys to measure students’ preferences regarding collaboration, complemented with interviews with students and/or learning outcome measures of the collaborative learning processes.
References
Slavin, R. E. (2015). Cooperative learning in elementary schools. Education 3-13: International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education, 43, 5-14. doi:10.1080/03004279.2015.963370
van Dijk, A.M., Eysink, T.H.S., & de Jong, (2019). Supporting cooperative dialogue in heterogeneous groups in elementary education. Small Group Research, 51, 464-491. doi:10.1177/1046496419879978
van Dijk, A.M., Gijlers, A.H., & Weinberger, A. (2014). Scripted collaborative drawing in elementary education. Instructional Science, 42, 353-372. doi: 10.1007/s11251-013-9286-1