Technology enhanced cooperative learning

The University of Tennessee has initiated a yearlong set of projects related to Wireless Instructional Initiatives. The project has provided a set of wireless laptops for student use in several classes. The courses for this paper have been organized into structured groups for both in class and out of class projects. During class, the groups may be required to develop approaches to problems, answer and present solutions, and assess the work of other groups. The use of wireless laptops combined with a Blackboard course web site provides an opportunity to have an available documented group solution for discussions. The initial applications were with junior - senior course, where the students provide approaches to realistic problems, which were available to all groups. The students reported that they gained significant insight from reading other groups. The next course will be a sophomore course with over 9-10 student groups and a more general application.