Cooperative Learning and Co-Regulation: Exploring Students' Teamwork Strategies in Higher Education

This research paper investigates the effectiveness of cooperative learning and co-regulation strategies in promoting teamwork and enhancing students' performance in higher education. The study was conducted in an in-person intermediate-level information system design course with 152 students divided into 31 teams. The students utilized the Scrum framework to manage a semester-long project with three milestones. Retrospective data were collected at the end of each milestone, and the first milestone data were analyzed in this study. Through a thematic analysis of retrospective data collected after the first milestone, the study examines students' planning, monitoring, and reflection strategies. The findings reveal that students demonstrated adaptive planning, equitable contribution, and task allocation based on individual strengths and preferences. In terms of monitoring, students adopted a proactive approach, displayed relational competence, and utilized both synchronous and asynchronous communication channels. Regarding reflection, students valued effective planning and execution but struggled with time management. They developed concrete improvement strategies for the next milestone, emphasizing realistic deadlines, improved communication, and a better understanding of team members' strengths. This research contributes to the understanding of cooperative learning and co-regulation in promoting effective teamwork in higher education. The findings have implications for pedagogical practices and suggest the importance of integrating cooperative learning and co-regulation strategies in team-based learning environments. Future research can further explore the application of these strategies in different educational contexts and investigate their long-term effects on students' performance and engagement.

I. Introduction

In engineering educational spaces, it is fundamental to provide effective learning environments for students to thrive academically and emotionally. Traditional institutions focus their teaching pedagogies on individualistic learning where students are encouraged to solve exams, assignments, and tasks independently. However, research has proven that cooperative learning has superior effects on students learning [1] and emotional intelligence [2]. Working cooperatively not only impacts students' learning but also helps reduce the gap between engineering studies and industry application; in the 21st century, one of the most required skills in industry is teamwork [3], [4].