A Persuasive Example of Collaborative Learning

Abstract

This article details the process of integrating a 12-week collaborative learning project within a course on Persuasion and Propaganda. We present a specific instantiation of Meyers's (1997) articulation of general principles for incorporating small group projects into college courses. Student groups designed, executed, and evaluated persuasive campaigns to change the attitudes and behavior of target populations. Student self-reports indicated that the course format was significantly more popular than traditional formats in other psychology courses. Moreover, students worked significantly harder for and learned more from the cooperative learning components than from the traditional lecture- and text-based components of this course.