Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Cooperative Learning Using Taguchi Quality Indexes and Mahalanobis Distance

• Main Authors: Chen Shiau Tsai, 蔡承孝
• Other Authors: Chin-Min Hsiung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/35389439447524978849

碩士 === 國立屏東科技大學 === 機械工程系所 === 101 === Cooperative learning is a successful approach that by working collectively to accomplish shared goals can help students develop a positive attitude of interdependence, allowing students to solve problems efficiently as well as to improve the overall effectiveness of learning. However, cooperative learning does not always lead to success; therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop an approach to detect disorders among cooperative learning groups. In this study, three types of indicators of Taguchi methods such as larger-the-better, smaller-the-better, and on-target were used as the basis to assess disorders among cooperative learning groups instead of using the traditional average score as the quality indicator. Taguchi methods are widely used in the industrial sector, for the difference between characteristics of values and values are taken into account. However, Taguchi methods could only determine the ranking of the cooperative learning groups, these indicators were not able to detect whether disorders took place, so in this study, the cooperative learning groups with disorders were detected via the Mahalanobis distance. Subjects of this study were freshmen studying at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, a total of 42 students were randomly selected and divided into groups; a total of 14 groups. The cooperative learning method was applied to the entire class for one semester (18-week). Besides general classes (3 hours per week), 3 hours of after school tutoring programs per week were added. The results showed that the cooperative learning groups with disorders could be detected via Taguchi methods and the Mahalanobis distance. In this study, the correctness of disorder was verified based on the learning attitude. At last, suggestions for improvement on the cooperative learning method and research tools were included.