Abstract:

Cooperative learning is a teaching technique that relies on the interactions and collaborations among students to achieve a specific learning outcome. By exchanging information, knowledge and solutions, students can effectively solve a given task by collaborating with others. The Aronson puzzle is a technique of this class that joins students into small groups to perform a concrete assignment, allowing them to achieve the proposed target skills and learning outcomes.

In this work, we present the results of applying the Aronson puzzle to the Computer Architecture Systems course within the Computer Science degree at Universitat Jaume I de Castelló, Spain. Furthermore, we also present the students’ assessment for this learning methodology, including the advantages and drawbacks found compared to a traditional lecture.

The Aronson puzzle is use in one large activity where students learn study and understand three different communication network topologies of data centres. The activity is composed of five steps, including comprehensible read of a specific network topology, work in groups and a public exposition of the work developed.

In general, the use of Aronson puzzle has present positive results and support students to reach several soft skills:
a) autonomous learning,
b) critical thinking,
c) work in groups and
d) conflict resolution.

Keywords:

Cooperative learning, Aronson puzzle, teamwork.