IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING OF CONCEPTUAL INFORMATION - GSS SUPPORTED COLLABORATIVE LEARNING VS INDIVIDUAL CONSTRUCTIVE LEARNING

A great deal of time in the traditional classroom environment is spent gathering information (taking notes) rather than processing the infor mation and assimilating the information. The traditional learning mode l goes from the gathering to recall stage without regard for whether t he information is actually comprehended (processed and assimilated). T he research reported in this paper employed a quasi-experimental desig n to examine whether technology-enabled collaborative learning involvi ng case analyses is superior to individual constructive learning invol ving individual case analyses where the goal of both methods is to inc rease student interest in the course, increase student understanding o f the material, and enhance student performance. The study found that students working collaboratively in either small or large groups were more interested in the material and perceived themselves to learn more than students that worked individually but that students that worked individually outperformed students that collaborated in small or large groups before working individually. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.