Learning Disabled Children & Learning Techniques

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING TECHNIQUES ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF 10-TO-13 YEAR OLD LEARNING DISABLED CHILDREN

The proposed study examines whether the academic achievement of a sample of 10 to 13 year old, learning disabled children can be significantly improved through cooperative learning techniques. Three cooperative teaching strategies are to be tested and compared against one another. Further, the achievement gains, if any, will be compared for males and females in order to see if the cooperative learning strategies differ as a function of gender.

The study's conceptual foundation is that of Cooperative Learning Theory and the factors that make it a strong contributor to the achievement levels of both regular and special education students. These factors, according to Vaughn, Bos, and Schumm (2002) include: positive interdependence, accountability, and the use of diverse methods, materials and group structures.

The current research on cooperative learning indicates that it has been highly successful in increasing the academic success and achievement of regular students (Vaughn, Bos & Schumm, 2002). However, there has been little research into the effects of cooperative learning strategies on the achievement levels of learning disabled children. Of the studies that have been conducted using cooperative learning strategies on non-achievement variables for various exceptio

Related Essays

Cooperative Learning Techniques .... the academic achievement of a sample of 10 to 13 year old, learning disabled children can be significantly improved through cooperative learning techniques. .... (1489 6 )

Cooperative Learning & Academic Achievement .... the academic achievement of a sample of middle school (grades 6, 7, and 8) learning disabled children can be improved through cooperative learning techniques. .... (1936 8 )

Cooperative Learning in Education The purpose of this paper is to .... that the use of cooperative learning techniques would facilitate .... interaction between regular and learning-disabled students .... between 35 and 52) children, and 32 .... (2407 10 )

USE OF COOPERATIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES .... at low levels of exposure to the techniques and methods. .... a positive effect on the social interactions of learning-disabled and non-disabled children in the .... (4142 17 )

Effects on Literacy Skills of Different Learning Methods .... of learning-disabled and non-disabled children in the .... All children were selected from two regular fifth .... deal of other research on cooperative learning using the .... (7300 29 )

diverse methods such as sharing materials, and so forth. Significance of the Study and Current Research While cooperative learning has been associated with increases in both the academic and social behaviors of regular children, the findings are not so clear regarding those who are at-risk for school failure due to academic, behavioral, emotional, or other learning problems and handicaps (see: Vaughn, Bos & Schumm, 2002). Of the research that has been conducted, cooperative learning has been found to: improve ability to write stories (Bedrosian, Lasker, Speidel & Politsch, 2003); help students become more engaged in school activities (Cushing, Kennedy, Shukla, Davis & Meyer, 1997); promote positive social interactions (Sasso, Mundschenk, Melloy & Casey, 1998); and improve social behaviors that specifically operate to disrupt academic performance (Cheek, Logan, Sprecher & Streitmatter, 1997). While the foregoing studies were not all directly tied to achievement, Kristen (2002), in a review of earlier research conducted from 1990 to 2000 did find that in several studies the academic achievement of a variety of at-risk children was increased through cooperative teaching strategies. Thus, the significance of this study is that it

Category: Psychology - L