Collaborative learning in an operating systems course: an experience report

Circumstances - a 5-week course format with two 4-hour evening classes each week - impelled an alternative approach for the introductory operating systems course at Rochester Institute of Technology in summer 2003. We used a co-operative learning approach based loosely on the jigsaw methodology. Students were divided into teams, and each assigned to prepare one subtopic of the material for each course session. Each class consisted of a lecture session, followed by team sessions where each member explained their portion of the lecture material and the team discussed it. This format proved very successful in increasing student involvement and making sure that nearly all students came away with at least a basic understanding of the material. The paper presents the details of the format, challenges faced, positive outcomes and limitations, and data and perspectives from student surveys.