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Presenters
Abbas Shekarey   
M. Jalali   
Abbas zare-ee

Title
The Effects of Cooperative Learning and Group Learning Experiences on the Development of Social Skills

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of cooperative learning and group learning experiences on the development of social skills in English language classes among high school students in Ardabil Province in Iran. In this type of learning  three to five students of mixed ability levels are grouped to work together on a task and to hand in the result of their shared attempt in written form in an environment in which the class works in small, mixed-ability groups toward a common goal. The present study used a quasi-experimental design during which two randomly selected intact classes served as the control group and the experimental group.   After being pre-tested on the dependent variable of Matson’s dimensions of social skills, the experimental group was taught their English lesson using cooperative learning techniques including heterogeneous grouping and group incentives for a period of sixteen weeks; whereas, the control group continued in their ordinary traditional method.

The 56-item likert scale questionnaire (Cronbach Alpha Reliability= 0.86) used for the pretest was used again at the end of the period to test changes brought about in the different dimension of social skills addressed in the study. The collected data were summarized and analysed using the descriptive and inferential formulae of the SPSS. The results of the study showed that the use of cooperative learning in the form of mixed-ability small group learning produced significant differences in measured social skills when compared to traditional classroom structures. The results also indicated that the group learning experiences had significantly reduced aggressive behaviors and asocial behaviors (pride, jealousy, and seclusion) and improved social skills. Implications of findings for learning English as an international language are discussed in the report.

Key words: Cooperative Learning , Group Learning, Social Skill