An analysis of experience of applying "cooperative learning" in higher education

This research studied and analyzed an experience of applying cooperative learning in Iranian higher education. To this aim, a longitude study was done through action research in two academic semesters in one of the universities in educational science discipline. Participants of this research were bachelor students in educational science discipline. Data of this research were gathered by open and close response questionnaires, individual and group interviews, cooperative observation of classes and autobiographies of the professor. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analyzed by coding and making themes. Integrating quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed two themes in this experience: "process" and "outcome". Process itself composed of subthemes named "grouping", "method", "assignments", "relations and interactions", "responsibility" and "get serious process of cooperative learning". Outcome also includes subthemes named "skills" and "attitudes". Finally, some recommendations were extracted from data analysis to betterment the practice upon which another improved model was obtained for future that provides the preparations of another research.