The impact of cooperative learning and course learning environment factors on learning outcomes and overall excellence in the community college classroom

This quantitative study explored the impact of the cooperative learning instructional method on 12 course learning environment factors, learning outcomes, and overall excellence of instruction and courses in a small rural comprehensive community college. This study also investigated the relationship of the 12 course learning environment factors on learning outcomes and overall excellence of instruction and courses. The IDEA Center student rating form (IDEA Center, 1998b) was used to measure these variables. The Questionnaire on the Use of Cooperative Learning (Cooperative Learning Center, 1991) was used to identify courses integrating cooperative learning and those not integrating cooperative learning for comparison on several variables. All students enrolled in courses in regular schedule academic credit courses were used in the study. Over 3000 student ratings were collected for analysis.; A quasi-experimental representative design proposed that an experimental group (students in courses taught cooperatively) and a comparison group (students in courses not taught cooperatively) be compared on course learning environment factors, learning outcomes and overall excellence of instruction and courses. Students in courses taught cooperatively rated the course and instruction significantly higher than in courses not taught cooperatively on 10 of 12 course learning environment factors and learning outcomes. The impact of cooperative learning on the overall excellence of instruction and courses was also statistically significant but marginal. The findings of the impact of course learning environment factors on learning outcomes and overall excellence of instruction and courses were very significant. Correlation and multiple regression statistical procedures were used to analyze the data. This study was significant not only because of the depth and scope of the study on cooperative learning in a community college, but also because of the investigation of how course learning environment factors impacted student ratings of learning outcomes and the overall excellence of instruction and courses.