Using SimCPU in cooperative learning laboratories

This article reports the research findings of an experimental design in which cooperative learning strategies were applied to closed-lab instruction of computing concepts. SimCPU, a software package specially designed for closed-lab usage, was used by 171 high-school students of four classes. In contrast to the students in the control group who operated SimCPU individually, students in the experimental group formed threesome teams to learn the CPU-related concepts by operating SimCPU cooperatively. The results showed that collaboration did enhance learning and that blending cooperative learning with closed-lab instruction in computer science was viable.