Open AccessNew curriculum design and teaching methods to enhance course performance and increase motivation of Saudi Arabian college students
Author(s) -
Julie Nash
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
learning and teaching in higher education: gulf perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.103
0ISSN - 2077-5504
DOI - 10.18538/lthe.v13.n2.235
Subject(s) - curriculum , mathematics education , medical education , psychology , course (navigation) , pedagogy , medicine , engineering , aerospace engineering
This study investigated the effect of cooperative learning on the performance of female college students enrolled in “writing and research” courses at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia). Cooperative learning (CL) activities were employed in place of traditional lectures and group activities. Two populations were compared, one with the CL methodology and one with traditional methodology. The results were assessed by final exam scores, final course grades, the number of students passing, pre and post-tests and a self-report survey. We found that this sample of Arab college students performed at a higher level in the CL classes than in the traditional classes. Findings suggest that CL is an effective method for teaching Arab college students.