LE 4000

1. 1
NNM 2012
Below is the background information of a study. You are to use the information provided
as a basis to answer ALL questions.
Title of study
A Study of Collaborative Learning among Malaysian Undergraduates
Literature Review (Excerpts)
 Harmer (1991) proposes that collaborative learning provides maximum opportunities for
students to interact and cooperate with one another as they work towards a common goal
by using four language skills such as speaking, listening, reading and writing.
 Delucchi (2006) reports that female students preferred collaborative learning on language
activities as these activities enabled them to exchange more opinions and ideas.
 Krashen (1988) explained learning English in less anxiety situations resulted in effective
learning.
 Mohd Hanif and Norsafinas (2006) state that most Human Science programmes are
assessed according to assignments, group projects, presentations and class discussions.
 Web (1982) explains the nature of Asian students as being submissive, anxious and talk
less in classrooms, so through collaborative learning, Asian students are able to learn
better and more effectively.
 Norhayati et. al (2005) find that on-line collaboration-learning group scored higher than
the traditional collaboration-learning group (face to face discussion on the project).
 Gokhale (1995) finds that collaborative learning fosters the development of critical
thinking in Human Science programmes through discussion, clarification of ideas and
evaluation of others’ ideas.
 M.Z. Kamsah & R. Talib (2003) discover that the lecturers and the final year engineering
students at Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering (FKKKSA) at
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Skudai agreed on the importance of group work activities
in classrooms.
Statement of Problem
The manners of which students acquire knowledge vary from one individual to another and at
different levels of study. Wong (2004) reveals Malaysian undergraduates experienced teacher-
centered learning, rote memorizing and `spoon-feeding’ during high school. Whereas, Othman,
Wong, Shah Christirani and Nabilah (2009) find that the majority of the respondents think that

2. 2
NNM 2012
peers not only helped to clarify concepts that they were uncertain, but also these peers have
become the source of information. Therefore, learning style influences students’ academic
performance at tertiary level.
ResearchQuestions
1. 1. Is there any significant difference in students’ preference for collaborative learning by gender?
2. 2. Is programme a deciding factor that contributes to the students’ preference?

3. 3
NNM 2012
STUDY THE GRAPHS BELOW (FIGURE 1 AND 2). WRITE THE FINDINGS IN ABOUT 100 WORDS,
BASED ON THE GRAPHS GIVEN. YOUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE RESEARCH
QUESTIONS.
QUESTION 1 (A) (7 MARKS)
Figure 1: Malaysian undergraduates’ preference level according to gender
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
0%
6.9%
93.1%
0%
5.6%
94.4%
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Low Average High
Male
Female

4. 4
NNM 2012
QUESTION 1 (B) (7 MARKS)
Figure 2: Malaysian undergraduates’ preference level according to programme
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
0%
9.7%
90.3%
0% 2%
98%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Low Average High
Science
Human Sciences

5. 5
NNM 2012
QUESTION 2 (14 MARKS)
USING THE FINDINGS IN QUESTION 1 (A) AND (B), WRITE THE DISCUSSION TO THE STUDY IN 200-250
WORDS.USE THE LITERATURE REVIEW (EXCERPTS) ASSUPPORT. YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THE
ABILITY OF USING AT LEAST 2 OF THE CITATION TECHNIQUES TAUGHT.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

6. 6
NNM 2012
QUESTION 3 (12 MARKS)
STATE2 MAJORFINDINGS AND PROVIDE 1 POSSIBLE IMPLICATION FOR EACH OF THE FINDINGS IN
100-150 WORDS
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________