Working together in the classroom : an investigation into software to raise awareness of group-learning skills in children aged 9 and 10

Abstract

This thesis describes a training scheme to raise awareness of group skills. Drawing on existing research and observations of classroom practice, this scheme requires children to consider group skills before, during and after the group activity. The approach is unique as the task of raising awareness of group skills was designed to influence, and be influenced by, the group task; and feedback on group skill usage is generated from individual self-assessments made during and after the activity. Studies using the scheme with 9 and 10 year olds working in face-to-face groups found the medium (paper or software) and the environment (a classroom or laboratory-style setting) influenced the self-assessments. Despite this, using the scheme did not result in the transfer of group skills to other activities. A relationship was found, however, between the consistency of the self-assessments recorded during and after the activity and the child’s ability at group work. The training scheme positively influenced the task performance. If a software implementation of the scheme was used concurrently with computer tasks, there was a trend towards improved recall in the material studied. If used with an activity that also incorporated communication, reflection and responsibility, a significant improvement in performance was achieved.