Effectiveness of Small-Group Learning in STEM College Classrooms: An International Meta-Analytic Review

• In Event: 31.092 - Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: 31.092-7 - Poster Session: College Student Learning and Development (1)

Abstract

The objectives of this meta-analytic study were to: (1) Conduct a comprehensive literature search to integrate and synthesize the international primary studies that examined the effectiveness of small group learning in STEM college classrooms; and (2) Use the multilevel methods to estimate the average effect size of the STEM experimental and quasi-experimental effectiveness primary studies and model the heterogeneity in these effect sizes by including the coded predictor variables in the multilevel model. The results of the multilevel modeling show that small-group learning methods are more effective than the traditional lecture-based instruction in international classroom settings. Therefore, the international studies are in support of the effectiveness of the small-group instructional methods in college STEM classrooms.

Authors

• Sema A. Kalaian, Eastern Michigan University

• Rafa M. Kasim, Indiana Institute of Technology