The cooperative learning movement began as parts of the desegregation process in America, aiming at increasing academic achievement and social skills among diverse students. Cooperative learning may be defined as a classroom learning environment in wh...
The cooperative learning movement began as parts of the desegregation process in America, aiming at increasing academic achievement and social skills among diverse students. Cooperative learning may be defined as a classroom learning environment in which students work together in small heterogeneous groups. Although many studies have shown the effectiveness of cooperative learning in a variety of subjects, relatively few have focused on biology. In this study, we investigated the effects of cooperative learning on students` achievement and attitude of middle school biology students. For this purpose this study compared three sections. In one section, a cooperative learning strategy was used. Second section was taught in small groups and the third section was instructed in the traditional method. The unit `Structures and functions of animals` was used. A total of 188 students were included in this study. These classes were treated for 10hours during 10weeks from September 1 to November 28, 1999. The pretests-posttests control group design was applyed. An analysis of covariance(ANCOVA) was used as the data analysis procedure. Significant differences were found in the achievement and the attitude of students using cooperative learning strategy(p<.05) when compared to traditional classroom structure and small group learning. Cooperative learning was more effective in the low-ability and average-ability students than the high-ability students in the science achievement. Cooperative learning is effective in both male and female students. And students in the cooperative group achieved better than those in other groups in affective, behavioral, and intention-cognitive domain of science attitude.