Is collaborative group learning and contextual learning effective?
Instructors should use collaborative group learning and contextual hands-on methods to increase the likelihood of success of female students. A review of the literature http://www.iwitts.com/Biblio.PDF, the empirical experience of several of the best practice sites, and focus group findings suggest that female and male technology students have different learning styles. Female students do best when they understand the practical context of what they are learning, from the start, and they prefer to work in collaborative groups. See Hagerman Academy, Franklin High School, United Tribes Technical College and Focus Group Report.
