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Teaching problem solving through cooperative grouping. Part 2: Designing problems and structuring groups
Abstract
A supportive environment based on cooperative grouping was developed to foster students’ learning of an effective problem-solving strategy. Experiments to adapt the technique of cooperative grouping to physics problem solving were carried out in two diverse settings: a large introductory course at state university, and a small modern physics class at a community college. Groups were more likely to use an effective problem-solving strategy when given context-rich problems to solve than when given standard textbook problems. Well-functioning cooperative groups were found to result from specific structural and management procedures governing group members’ interactions. Group size, the gender and ability composition of groups, seating arrangement, role assignment, textbook use, and group as well as individual testing were all found to contribute to the problem-solving performance of cooperative groups.
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“Research shows that the consensus-finding crucial for learning in the collaborative stage is best stimulated by complex questions that require higher-level cognitive skills (B. S. Bloom et al., 1964;Heller & Hollabaugh, 1992;Rieger & Rieger, 2020;Stearns, 1996).”
From Active learning through flexible collaborative exams: Improving assessments across disciplines (2026) · cites this paper as Heller & Hollabaugh, 1992
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Metadata
- Authors
- Heller, P., & Hollabaugh, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Normandale Community College (US)
- ORCID
- Heller, Patricia
- Venue
- American Journal of Physics
- Published
- 1992-07-01
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 637-644
- ISSN
- 0002-9505 (ISSN-L)
- 1943-2909
- OpenAlex
- W2047405957
- Cited by
- 726
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 43
- FWCI
- 3.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Physics (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
- Social Sciences › Education › Problem and Project Based Learning
- Social Sciences › Education › Educational Methods and Outcomes
- Keywords
- physics problem solving, problem-solving strategies, context-rich problems, group structure, group management, role assignment, group size, gender composition, seating arrangement, introductory physics, modern physics
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