Cooperative Learning and Team Projects in the Postsecondary Classroom: Faculty Motivation and Instructional "Best Practices"

• In Event: 49.058 - New Developments in Cooperative Learning

Abstract

Since the 1980s, many organizations have embraced the use of work place teams as an effective way to improve productivity, creativity, and quality of products and services (Ettington & Camp, 2002; Ruiz-Ulloa & Adams, 2004b). Equally important is the empirical research which has demonstrated that cooperative learning has the ability to significantly enhance student learning (Collard, 2009; Cross, 2005; Johnson & Johnson, 1994; Michaelsen, Knight, & Fink, 2002). Consequently, there is a pressing need for postsecondary institutions to effectively employ cooperative and team-based learning. This descriptive survey study reports the faculty motivation behind the assigning of cooperative work and team projects at 10 Maryland Colleges as well as the cooperative learning and teamwork instructional “best practices” being followed.

Authors

• Deborah C. Calhoun, Notre Dame of Maryland University

• Angela L. Snyder, Notre Dame of Maryland University